White Paper: Microplastics in Compost Summary of Findings

View Print Download

This resource is licensed under an Attribution NonCommercial NoDerivatives Creative Commons license.

See the Full Policy

Want to modify this resource?

White Paper: Microplastics in Compost Summary of Findings

FOCUS AREAS: Community Education, Plastics Pollution
KEYWORDS: Composting, Contamination, Disposables, Educational Materials, Plastic, Policies, Pollution, Reports, Schools, Single-Use, Zero Waste Community Planning, Zero Waste Events, Zero Waste Policies

Updated in 2012.

Research from Eco-Cycle and Woods End Laboratories demonstrates that microplastics are shed from all plastic-coated paper products during composting. These microplastics may pose a significant risk to soils, freshwater and marine environments, wildlife, and ultimately, human populations. This potential threat justifies a ban on non-biodegradable plastic-coated paper products in compost. PLEASE NOTE: As of April 2023, compost guidelines for Colorado Front Range communities have changed to accept food scraps and yard & plant trimmings ONLY. Certified compostable service ware and non-plastic-coated papers are no longer accepted in curbside compost in this region.