RECYCLING BIOPOL - COMPOSTING AND MATERIAL RECYCLING

The recycling of biodegradable thermoplastics such as ZENECA's BIOPOL range of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate and poly-3-hydroxyvalerate copolymers needs to be considered in terms of both material recycling and organic recycling by composting. BIOPOL can be recycled as regrind. The addition of BIOPOL to a model waste stream demonstrates that at the anticipated addition levels, BIOPOL should not have a deleterious effect on the processing or properties of the thermoplastic waste stream. Therefore, BIOPOL should not compromise the recycling initiatives underway. Recycling BIOPOL by composting not only offers an additional waste management option where material recycling is not a viable option for technical, economic, or environmental reasons, but also generates a useful product, valuable as a soil conditioner.