Littering

Littering refers to careless discarding of rubbish and is not a legitimate means of waste disposal. Biodegradable plastics are often regarded as a possible solution to this problem as they can be decomposed by micro-organisms without producing harmful or noxious residue during decomposition. Although e,g. compostable packaging in itself does not provide an adequate solution, it is optimised for recovery in composting operations. Temperatures of up to 70°C and high humidity are required for their rapid decomposition in 6 to 12 weeks. Such conditions are virtually never existent in nature or in ones garden, which means that decomposition can take considerably longer. Even under ideal decomposition conditions, they remain recognisable as packaging for a period of time, and represent an unattractive blight on the landscape.

It is imperative for the consumer to continue to be conscious of the fact that no matter what type of packaging, it must be subject to a regulated recovery process. This is the optimal possibility for re-use and recycling to occur. European Bioplastics does not support any statements that advertise bioplastics as a solution for littering problems.