Why Compostable Coffee Cup Lids Are Really Bad For The Environment

Most compostable packaging will be put in the normal waste for disposal in landfill, with the result that, as with any other organic matter in landfill, as it degrades it will give off methane. Additionally, if compostable packaging is put into the recycling stream, it can contaminate all the other materials, meaning that the whole batch cannot be recycled.

It’s really important to note that although a product may state that it is ‘Compostable’ does not mean that it can be accepted in green waste collections. The majority of local authorities will not accept compostable packaging in either their garden waste or food waste collections this is because of the risk of contamination which can be extremely costly to the local authority.

So although commercial composters in theory can process this waste they are not doing so because of the risks of contamination.

Above all, a key worry about the use of compostable packaging is that it promotes recycling, rather than placing emphasis on the top tier of the hierarchy for waste management – reducing the amount of waste produced in the first place.