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  • Can compostable packaging go in my food waste bin?
    It’s a common question, but the short answer is NO—compostable packaging should NOT go in food waste bins unless confirmed otherwise. Why Not? In the UK, most food waste is processed through anaerobic digestion (AD). AD converts food waste into biogas and fertiliser (digestate), but the system isn’t designed to break down compostable packaging. 🚨 The problem? AD facilities remove all solids—whether compostable or not—because packaging materials can interfere with the digestion process and reduce the quality of the biogas and digestate produced. What Should You Do Instead? ✅ Check with your waste provider to confirm where your food waste is going. ✅ If it’s going to AD, compostable packaging should NOT be placed in the same bin as food waste. ✅ Compostable packaging needs to go to an industrial composting facility designed to break it down properly. 📌 At Food4Soil, we offer a dedicated collection service for compostable packaging, ensuring it is processed correctly and not mistakenly sent to AD. 💡 Want to dispose of compostables correctly? [Find Out More About Our Collection Service →] (CTA button linking to services page)
  • Recyclable vs Compostable vs Biodegradable: What's the difference?
    Recyclable ♻ The word "recyclable" sounds great—but in reality, most conventional food packaging can't actually be recycled. ✅ Dry, clean materials like cardboard, paper, plastic bottles, and metal cans can be recycled—but only if kept separate and uncontaminated. ❌ Used catering disposables, however, are a mix of card, plastic, and food waste, making food contamination inevitable. 🚨 The problem? Contaminated packaging is too difficult and costly to recycle, so it’s usually incinerated or landfilled instead. Compostable 🌱 Compostable means that a material fully breaks down into compost within 12 weeks under the right conditions. ✅ When sent to an In-Vessel Composting (IVC) facility, compostable packaging breaks down alongside food waste to create nutrient-rich compost. ✅ No plastic pollution, no microplastics—just healthy soil. 🚨 The catch? Compostables must be processed correctly in an industrial composting system—they won’t break down in landfill or recycling bins or even worse, when littering beaches and other natural environments! Biodegradable ⚠?? "Biodegradable" simply means something can break down naturally—but it doesn’t tell us how long it takes or under what conditions. ✅ A banana peel is biodegradable—it breaks down in weeks. ❌ A wooden log cabin is also biodegradable—but it can stand for generations. 🚨 The problem? The term "biodegradable" has no timeframe and no guarantee that something will break down in composting conditions. Many so-called "biodegradable" plastics can take decades to degrade and may leave behind microplastics.
  • How to properly dispose of compostable packaging in the UK?
    How to Dispose of Compostable Packaging in the UK Proper disposal is key to ensuring compostable packaging actually breaks down and benefits the environment. Here’s how you can do it correctly: 1️⃣ Check Local Composting Options ♻ The best way to dispose of compostable packaging is through industrial composting facilities. These facilities maintain the specific conditions needed to break down compostable materials efficiently and are permitted to compost food waste along with packaging. 📌 Action: Contact your local waste authority to check if industrial composting is available in your area. 2️⃣ Use Designated Bins 🗑 🚛 Some local councils accept compostable packaging in food waste or green bins—but this varies by location. 📌 Action: Contact your local council or waste provider to confirm whether compostable packaging is accepted in your collection service. 🚨 Important: If your compostable packaging ends up in general waste, it may be incinerated or landfilled instead of composted. 3️⃣ Commercial Composting Services 🏢 For businesses and food service providers, working with a specialist composting collection service is the most reliable way to ensure compostables are processed correctly. ✔ In North West England & North Wales, Food4Soil offers dedicated compostables collection. ✔ In London & South East England, try companies like enVar, First Mile, or Recorra. ✔ Manufacturers of your compostable packaging may also provide guidance on local disposal options. 📌 Action: If your business wants to introduce compostables, consider partnering with a composting service. Find out how Food4Soil can help 4️⃣ Educate & Inform 📢 Even the best composting system won’t work if people don’t know how to use it! ✔ For businesses: Train staff and use clear signage to prevent contamination. ✔ For individuals: Spread awareness about how compostables should be disposed of correctly. 📌 Action: Want to educate your team or customers? Why This Matters By following these steps, you ensure that compostable packaging is actually composted, helping to: ✅ Reduce landfill and incineration ✅ Lower carbon emissions ✅ Support soil regeneration through composting 💡 Need help setting up compostables collection for your business? Get in touch today
  • What's the point of food packaging being compostable?
    Compostable food packaging is designed to reduce waste, cut carbon emissions, and support a circular economy. Unlike traditional plastic, which can take centuries to break down, compostable packaging returns to the earth as nutrient-rich compost in just a few months when properly processed. However, for compostables to be truly effective, they must be disposed of correctly in a dedicated composting system—not in general waste or recycling. This guide explains why compostable packaging matters, how it compares to other materials, and how businesses can make the most of it.
  • Can compostable packaging be recycled?
  • What are compostable materials?
    ✔ Compostable materials are made from plant-based or organic materials that break down into natural elements under the right composting conditions, leaving no harmful residues.
  • Can I put Compostable Packaging in my Food Waste Bin?
    ✔ Most UK food waste bins are processed through anaerobic digestion (AD), which cannot break down compostable packaging. Always check with your local council or waste collector.

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