Go zero waste
Vegware’s products are compostable, but to see the true benefits of such materials, we need to change the way we dispose of organic waste.
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So what does happen to waste which is put into landfill? Well, the answer is (pretty much) nothing.
In fact, landfill sites are designed in such a way as stop things breaking down, to prevent pollutants entering the environment. Landfills are typically sited where the ground is naturally impermeable and then lined with plastic or clay to prevent leachate (potentially toxic landfill 'juice') seeping into groundwater.
Once full, landfills are sealed with a further layer of clay or soil, creating a relatively oxygen-free, dry environment. These are almost exactly the opposite of the conditions required for composting. If any organic matter breaks down without oxygen, it can release methane, which can be a harmful greenhouse gas if not captured and used.
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90% of all waste could be recycled and given a whole new lease of life. In an EU-wide bid to boost recycling, the Landfill Directive discourages the use of landfill. In the UK, landfill is already the most expensive destination for waste, and landfill tax is still rising by £8 per tonne every year. The European Commission aims to ban biodegradable waste from landfill by 2020-2025. Scotland is banning biodegradable waste from landfill by 2020, requiring all businesses to introduce separate food waste recycling by 2015.
Vegware runs extensive trials with a variety of organics recycling systems in order to ensure that our products can be included in food waste collections. The two main types of organics recycling are in-vessel composting and anaerobic digestion. Depending on the process which is used, the end products are either nutrient-rich fertiliser, which is beneficial to agriculture, or methane which can be used as a renewable source of heat, electricity, gas or transport fuel. Either way, discarded food and used Vegware disposables are not waste, they are a resource!
Now is the time to start saving money by diverting waste from landfill, and going green with organics recycling!
Use our Food Waste Network to be matchmade with your ideal food waste recycling partner.
