Biodegradation/Disintegration of Selected Range of Polymers: Impact on the Compost Quality

Abstract

This study provides information about behaviour of selected polymeric materials in laboratory and home composting conditions. Polymeric samples certified as compostable have degraded in laboratory conditions. Selected samples showed low decomposition of material in real composting conditions. Polymeric sample labelled by the producer as “100% degradable” did not show any visual signs of degradation in the laboratory conditions as well as in the real conditions. Research was aimed also to the effect of biodegradation/disintegration of polymeric samples on compost quality. Tests of phytotoxicity with Sinapis alba L. and Hordeum vulgare L. were done for every sample of compost but pH was too low to evaluate the impact of samples to quality of compost. No seeds of the tested plant germinated in 81% of the started pots. Conclusion of this study is that there is a different outcome between decomposition of biodegradable/disintegrable plastic material in laboratory conditions and real composting conditions. Furthermore, it was found that some polymeric materials advertised by the producer as “100% degradable” are stable and do not decompose.