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hi, i live in a city that recently began allowing food waste into the green waste bins, and i'm wondering if food containers like what whole foods has for their hot prepared foods-soup, etc. can be composted? also, how about ice cream containers? thanks!
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Re: food containers compostable?
Thu, June 12, 2008 - 2:51 PMI dont think ice cream containers would break down that quickly, they seem to have a waxy coating on them. peace
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Re: food containers compostable?
Fri, June 13, 2008 - 11:49 AMWhole Foods composts their containers, so I would guess they'd break down at home. I agree that freezer containers would be a problem as they are coated, but any uncoated paper products SHOULD be ok. I recently tried throwing a few containers in the compost that say they are plastics made from corn and will break down. We'll see... -
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Re: food containers compostable?
Fri, June 13, 2008 - 11:51 AMdoes your municipality take milk cartons and juice boxes? Ice cream containers are pretty much the same. -
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Re: food containers compostable?
Fri, June 13, 2008 - 5:33 PMmy city's recycling firm does take juice and milk cartons, but they don't specifically say they take ice cream cartons. it's confusing for me when to recycle and when to compost certain items. -
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Re: food containers compostable?
Sat, June 14, 2008 - 10:06 AMwell, they're made pretty much the same way, of the same substrates. -
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Re: food containers compostable?
Sat, June 14, 2008 - 12:38 PMWe can recycle aseptic juice boxes but NOT frozen food packaging where I live. www.portlandonline.com/osd/index.cfm
I hate the new rolling carts! I have no pathway wide enough from back yard to front yard that I can roll it down. -
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Re: food containers compostable?
Sun, November 9, 2008 - 6:21 PMI have composted various types of cartons. Some definitely take longer than others to break down, especially thouse with waxy coating. It helps to shred them by hand before throwing in the compost. -
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Unsu...
Re: food containers compostable?
Sun, November 9, 2008 - 7:49 PMI know this is an old topic that was recently resurrected so I will post this. (I was going to post it before but forgot where I put the info on Whole Foods Containers. Whole Foods uses a product called "EatWare" and from the pamphlet it says the following:
“EATware(tm) single use boxes, bowls, trays and plates represent a new concept in pulp container materials and manufacturing. Our products are 100 percent all natural, made with fibers such as bamboo, sugar cane pulp, starch and water, with no chemical additives, so they are totally decomposable and bio-degradable… EATware(tm) products decompose in soil within 180 days or will totally disperse in water within just two weeks.”
The "waxy" feeling on the ice cream containers are a high-heated starch that is biodegradable when properly hydrated. It will not break down in newer "cold" composting. (You need a compost pile that has bacteria established, meaning its not brand new, and has plenty of organic "wet" stuff in it hehe)
Tim -
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Re: food containers compostable?
Wed, November 12, 2008 - 3:00 PMvery interesting.
my school, Portland State University is very green... (all default settings print on both sides of the paper, they're not printing booklets that have class schedules anymore) and in the cafeteria they've switched to a brand of silverware that is biodegradable. made of corn... i've tossed a few in the compost myself, and it seemed fine... a friend decided to eat one on a dare. he was fine.
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