Does "compostable" = "biodegradable"?

[Cornflower]

Quick question. I bought a carton of spinach with a label on it that says that packaging is made from corn and is compostable. I don't have a compost pile (live in a small apartment and we don't even have our own porch). It doesn't look like I can recycle the carton (no recycle symbol on it) but will it degrade naturally when I toss it in the trash?

Usually I try to buy spinach and in bulk or in recyclable plastic bags, but is a compostable carton just as good?

TIA

ETA: darn it, I misspelled compostable in the title and can't edit it! :p

[Serenstar]

Corn starch? Yep it's biodegradable.

Regarding the difference biodegradable and compostable plastics read this: http://www.biobags.co.uk/faq/biodegradable.htm

[Thalia]

Yes, it would biodegrade, but it's still going into a landfill, so it makes no difference. It's not going to return to the soil, and it may even create methane due to the lack of oxygen in landfills. http://people.howstuffworks.com/landfill7.htm

Could it be put down the garbage disposal?

[IamJen]

Is there someone you could give the packaging to, after you've saved a bit?

[Skylark]

Toss it out the car window into the weeds when you're on the highway. :sealed:

[IamJen]

At least she might get to meet a dapper state trooper (http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/thebigblog/archives/124312.asp) then. :p

[cookingVeg]

Something that is compostable is biodegradable, but something that is biodegradable is not necessarily compostable. For example, your shampoo might say it's biodegradable but it would not likely be compostable.

[WonderRandy]

Most of the packaging that is labeled as "compostable" has some interesting fine print: "in industrial composting facilities, where available". How many of us actually have "industrial composting" facilities nearby?

If you're gonna add it to your own compost pile, it should be fine, but you might want to chop it up first? dunno...

It's not recyclable :(

It's typically gonna get tossed into a plastic rubbish bag, and sent to the landfill. No improvement whatsoever over traditional packaging, if you ask me.

But it sure is great marketing, ain't it?

[Skylark]

Most of the packaging that is labeled as "compostable" has some interesting fine print: "in industrial composting facilities, where available". How many of us actually have "industrial composting" facilities nearby?

If you're gonna add it to your own compost pile, it should be fine, but you might want to chop it up first? dunno...

It's not recyclable :(

It's typically gonna get tossed into a plastic rubbish bag, and sent to the landfill. No improvement whatsoever over traditional packaging, if you ask me.

But it sure is great marketing, ain't it?

It might be worth finding out what qualifies as an industrial composting facility. Maybe there are more near us than we think.

[Cornflower]

Thanks for the responses. I'm lazy and like to buy that pre-washed baby spinach so that I can just throw it onto my sandwiches or in salads every day, and I usually buy it in the recyclable bags, but some supermarkets only carry the organic in the cartons. :p

I have no idea whatsoever if we have a commercial compost nearby. It will be worth googling at least!

[havocjohn]

Thanks for the responses. I'm lazy and like to buy that pre-washed baby spinach so that I can just throw it onto my sandwiches or in salads every day, and I usually buy it in the recyclable bags, but some supermarkets only carry the organic in the cartons. :p

I have no idea whatsoever if we have a commercial compost nearby. It will be worth googling at least!
If you go to the Factoria Transfer Station they should have an area set up for recycling.

Another option would be to take it to Pacific Topsoils ( I think it's 132nd) next to the Safeway, Coke and Metro Distribution centers off Bel-Red Rd.

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

Tully's coffee cups now say "compostable" on them. I usually put them in my recycling I guess without thinking, since all my other coffee cups go there (yes, I drink a LOT of coffee and no, don't even START with me on using a regular re-fillable cup). Guess I better not do that any more...

What if I put them in my yard-waste container? :D

Would they be OK in my worm bin? Wondering about the dyes in the paper and all...

[havocjohn]

Tully's coffee cups now say "compostable" on them. I usually put them in my recycling I guess without thinking, since all my other coffee cups go there (yes, I drink a LOT of coffee and no, don't even START with me on using a regular re-fillable cup). Guess I better not do that any more...

What if I put them in my yard-waste container? :D

Would they be OK in my worm bin? Wondering about the dyes in the paper and all...

assuming comcast in your neck of the woods is the same as my neck of the woods; I just saw a commercial that mentioned turning to channel 890 for info about what is and is not garbage.

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

Interesting! Wow. I didn't know it did that (comcast I mean!)