• Energy
  • • Energy Overview
      • Do a Home Energy Assessment
      • Give Your Home an Energy Tune-up
      • Go Solar
  • Conserve and
    Go Solar
• Food
  • • Food Overview
      • Grow A Food Garden
      • Eat Local Sustainable Food
      • Reduce Waste, Then Compost
  • Grow, Savor,
    Compost
• Waste
  • • Waste Overview
      • Reduce Single-Use Plastics
      • Reuse, Repurpose, Restore
      • Recycle Right
  • Reduce, Reuse,
    Recycle Right
• Water
  • • Water Overview
      • Save Water Indoors
      • Cut Water and Curb Pollution
      • Be A Catalyst for Clean Water
  • Indoors, Outdoors, and
    In Your Neighborhood
• Nature
  • • Nature Overview
      • Get Out and Explore
      • Keep Wildlife Safe
      • Support Backyard Wildlife
  • Explore and
    Protect

• Events
• FAQ

• Energy
  • • Energy Overview
      • Do a Home Energy Assessment
      • Give Your Home an Energy Tune-up
      • Go Solar
  • Conserve and
    Go Solar
• Food
  • • Food Overview
      • Grow A Food Garden
      • Eat Local Sustainable Food
      • Reduce Waste, Then Compost
  • Grow, Savor,
    Compost
• Waste
  • • Waste Overview
      • Reduce Single-Use Plastics
      • Reuse, Repurpose, Restore
      • Recycle Right
  • Reduce, Reuse,
    Recycle Right
• Water
  • • Water Overview
      • Save Water Indoors
      • Cut Water and Curb Pollution
      • Be A Catalyst for Clean Water
  • Indoors, Outdoors, and
    In Your Neighborhood
• Nature
  • • Nature Overview
      • Get Out and Explore
      • Keep Wildlife Safe
      • Support Backyard Wildlife
  • Explore and
    Protect

• Events
• FAQ

Biodegradable plastic is not a win – yet. Most biodegradable plastics sold as cups, plates, and utensils are made from some compostable material mixed with PLA (polylactic acid) – a durable plant-based plastic polymer made from corn starch or sugar cane. It is biodegradable, but only under certain high-heat conditions found at industrial-grade composting facilities that don’t exist in our area. If you throw that PLA cup or fork in the trash or your compost bin, where it will never be exposed to conditions that trigger biodegradation, it will sit there for decades or centuries, much like ordinary plastic pollution. A new generation of bioplastics composed of PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) made from canola oil are biodegradable in marine water and soil, and thus can be certified as home compostable . Because they break down so easily, PHA products are limited to plastic bags, wraps, and straws. Although bioplastics avoid the use of fossil fuels, they are not a solution for the waste piling up from single-use plastics.

Tips to Avoid Plastic Pollution