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，它们无限期地存在于环境中。塑料垃圾在环境中的持续存在，石油储备的迫在眉睫的短缺以及垃圾填埋场空间的短缺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。生物降解聚合物是可以被环境中天然存在的微生物分解的聚合物材料。堆肥是一种受控的生物氧化过程，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，** 市售可生物降解的聚合物在很大程度上限于饱和聚酯，其具有 ** 有限的物理和机械性能范围，并且仅在特殊的堆肥器中完全可堆肥。The Recycling Alternative是不列颠哥伦比亚省拥有和经营的一家企业，被公认为是 ** 创新回收方法和社区伙伴关系的当地领导者，在福溪公寓经营 ** 超过25年。他们的核心兴趣是回收产品，从纸张和纸板到有机物再到电子垃圾。最近，他们开始对堆肥生物降解塑料的挑战感兴趣，例如 **PLA，这些塑料并不总是在所有设施中均可降解。

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.