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Toolkit

Frequently Asked Questions (compostable bags and products) - BPI

PDF, Last Updated Feb 2014

This one-page information sheet from the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), answers three frequently asked questions about compostable products: 1. What makes a bag or other product compostable? 2. Can I put compostable products in my backyard compost bin? 3. How can I be sure products are really compostable?


Houston Compostable Bags Yard Trimmings Program

Webpage, Last Updated Feb 2014

The City of Houston established April 5, 2010 as the startup date for the collection of yard trimmings in compostable bags. This webpage explains the Houston program, provides a list of city-approved waste bags, as well as an explanation of how compostable bags work versus regular plastics bags.


Sunnyvale, California: Zero Waste Event Requirements for food vendors

Written Article, Last Updated Feb 2014

The City of Sunnyvale provided their 2014 guide for hosting a Zero Waste event. The packet includes requirements for food vendors, examples of compostable items they are required to use at the event, a food vendor contract, food vendor terms and conditions, and a concession operator's checklist.


USCC: Labeling Guidelines for Compostable Plastics Associated with Food Scraps or Yard Trimmings

Webpage, Last Updated Feb 2014

The goal of these guidelines is to identify compostable plastics associated with food scraps or yard trimmings (e.g., bags, plates, cups, cutlery, trays, and take out or food packaging) which are certified as compostable in commercial or industrial composting facilities. These guidelines should allow the public and retail consumers, material haulers, and processors to distinguish compostable from non-compostable products for proper handling of items after use.


How do I know if a utensil, cup, or plate is compostable in San Francisco?

Webpage, Last Updated Jan 2014

This City of San Francisco webpage provides residents an overview of identifying compostable foodware and provides links to related information.


Survey of Waste Professionals Compostable Plastics Knowledge

PDF, Last Updated Jan 2014

The survey was designed to gauge what municipal waste management professionals know about compostable plastics and to identify the most valuable resources to help municipal waste professionals manage compostable plastics. The survey was distributed via email to approximately 2,500 waste industry and government online listserv recipients, including regional Technical Advisory Councils, State Recycling Coordinators, the California Resource Recovery Association, the US Composting Council, and members of the Urban Sustainability Directors Network.


Compostable or not? Your guide to which products and packaging should be composted

Webpage, Last Updated Jan 2014

Composting has many benefits—reduces waste, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, creates jobs—but at the end of the day, it’s really about one thing: soil. And if you think about it, our future is really about that same thing, our soil. Without healthy soils, we can’t grow the food we need to survive, and countless other organisms will suffer too. This informational webpage includes a 4-step guide to preventing plastics pollution.


San Francisco Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance

Webpage, Last Updated Jan 2014

This site lists Chapter 17 of the City and County of San Francisco Environment Code, the plastic checkout bag ban.


Hennepin County, Minnesota: Organics Recycling

Webpage, Last Updated Jan 2014

This is an organics recycling webpage for residents in Hennepin County with information on how to use and where to find compostable bags and foodservice ware the organics bin.


Case Studies

Webpage, Last Updated Jan 2014

Learn about various venues, from Portland Trailblazers to the London Olympics, where end-of-life options are working and how they're helping divert waste from landfills.


Compostable Products

PDF, Last Updated Jan 2014

Certification and extensive non-/acceptable product lists


Portland Composts!

Webpage, Last Updated Jan 2014

Portland's new organics processor no longer accepts non-food items EXCEPT approved compostable bin liners. This webiste lists the approved lines, and has good informational "how-to" videos


Leduc, Canada: Organics Cart Content

Webpage, Last Updated Jan 2014

The City of Leduc is south of Edmonton, Canada. This is a Leduc City webpage that shows what is acceptable in their organics recycling cart, including a list of what is considered organic material. It also lists which compostable bags are acceptable to use in aiding the collection of organics, and lists where to purchase compostable bags.


Organic Materials Management

Webpage, Last Updated Jan 2014

The first link under the Compost Tab of this CalRecycle website is the State of California's Waste Manegment Board's (Calrecycle's) contact list of compostable products vendors. The list shows which products meet ASTM 6400.


No Compostable Plastics Accepted at Sonoma Compost Facility

Webpage, Last Updated Jan 2014

Bioplastic Update; Sonoma County Recycling Guide states bioplastics "neither recyclable NOR compostable" and not accepted at Sonoma Compost Facility


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This toolkit is designed to help you determine if a compostable plastics program is appropriate for your organization and to guide you in properly managing your compostable plastics.

*Resources outlined in this toolkit are examples from a variety of sources to help facilitate a better understanding of compostable products and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Compost Research and Education Foundation (CREF).

Contact Us with questions and feedback.

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