Exploring enhanced composting methodologies for PLA and related biodegradable polymers

塑料垃圾不仅是垃圾填埋场的一个严重问题，而且由于它们不能生物降解，它们会无限期地留在**环境中。环境中持续存在的塑料垃圾，迫在眉睫的石油储备短缺，以及填埋场空间的短缺，都增加了回收塑料以及生产完全可堆肥的可生物降解聚合物的紧迫性。可生物降解聚合物是可被环境中自然存在的微生物分解的聚合材料。堆肥是一种受控制的生物氧化过程，它将可分解的聚合物/塑料转化为二氧化碳、水、无机化合物和生物质。不幸的是，商业上可用的可生物降解聚合物在很大程度上仅限于饱和聚酯，这些聚酯具有有限的物理和机械性能，并且只能在特殊的堆肥器中完全堆肥。**The Recycling Alternative是卑诗省拥有和经营的企业，在创新回收方法和社区伙伴关系方面被公认为当地的领导者，并在False Creek Flats经营了**超过25年。他们的核心兴趣是回收各种产品，从纸和纸板到有机物到电子垃圾。最近，他们对生物可降解塑料的堆肥产生了兴趣，比如**PLA，这种塑料在所有设施中并不总是可降解的。

Plastic trash is not only a serious problem for landfills, but since they are not bio-degradable, they persist in the**environment indefinitely. The persistence of plastic trash in the environment, the looming shortage of**petroleum reserves, and the shortage of landfill space has increased the urgency to recycle plastics as well as to**produce biodegradable polymers that are fully compostable.**Biodegradable polymers are polymeric materials that can be broken down by naturally occurring**microorganisms in the environment. Composting is a controlled process of bio-oxidation that transforms**decomposable polymers/plastics to yield CO2, water, inorganic compounds and biomass. Unfortunately,**commercially available biodegradable polymers have been largely limited to saturated polyesters that possess a**restricted range of physical and mechanical properties and are only fully compostable in special composters.**The Recycling Alternative a BC owned and operated business which is recognized as a local leader in**innovative approaches to recycling and community partnerships and has operated in the False Creek Flats for**over 25 years. Their core interests are in recycling a products ranging from paper and cardboard to organics to**e-waste. Recently, they have become interested in the challenge of composting biodegradable plastics, such as**PLA, which are not always degradable in all facilities.