How to Dispose of Biodegradable Containers

Wash and reuse biodegradable containers whenever possible. Never reuse containers that contained raw meats or fish, however.

Examine the container. Look for the "biodegradable" label from the Biodegradable Products Institute, BPI. A biodegradable label guarantees that the container is compostable, but not necessarily safe for breaking down in a backyard compost piles or bins.

Look for an additional label that reads "ASTM D6400." This label indicates that the container is also certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute and is 100 percent compostable and safe for backyard compost piles and bins.

Create three bins in your home for waste: one for trash, one for recycling, the third reserved for biodegradable containers. Label each bin. Create labels for each bin using sheets of paper. Write the type of waste that each bin contains in bold magic marker. Tape the label to the front of each bin.

Place any biodegradable containers with the BPI label into the composting bin. If you have a backyard composting pile, put biodegradable containers with the ASTM D6400 label into your composting mixture. If you do not have a backyard composting pile, place all biodegradable containers in the bin marked for composting.

Go to your city’s local composting facility to empty your composting bin when it is filled with biodegradable containers. Contact your city’s municipal waste management company to find out where your local composting facility is. If your city does not have a composting facility, talk to your local council about creating one. Community composting facilities are part of many community waste management and greening programs.