Recently, we have had race directors contact us, wondering about using this new “plastic” that can be composted.  Specifically, they ask if it is something they should use for runners’ goody bags and other items.  Somehow the words “it’s compostable” have acquired a certain magic ring around events that are trying to minimize their environmental footrpint.

Our answer has been that PLA (polylactic acid, aka corn plastic) is not suitable for event use at this time because there are really no green options for its reuse.  Yes, it can compost, but only in a commercial composting setting.  And, even when composted, it breaks down into water and CO2 which adds nothing to the finished product.

The best option of course would be to remanufacture it into another PLA container, but we are not aware of any PLA container producer that is currently set up to take back this material from the public.  When one tries to recycle PLA with other plastics, like #1 PET plastic bottles, it becomes a contaminant due to its different chemical properties.  This increases the danger of having the entire load of plastics rejected. And, if PLA is somehow left in the batch of recycled plastic, it can harm the processing of the petroleum based plastics.

With the recent economic downturn, recycling markets including plastics are on thin ice, and we would hate to see them further disrupted by the introduction of PLA into their facilities.  We feel it is an improper use of resources to create a product that is used once and then discarded.  And, because it adds nothing to the composting process, we don’t give it much credit for its compostability either.

Recent articles in The Oregonian and Vancouver Green Business Journal offer a more in depth examination of this topic.