Walk down any “green” aisle or scan a trendy café’s trash setup, and you’ll see them: compostable cups, compostable cutlery, compostable bags. The word “compostable” is everywhere, slapped on products with clean fonts and earthy tones that scream responsibility. But here’s the truth: most of this packaging still ends up in the landfill—and much of it never breaks down the way you think it will.
Let’s cut through the marketing and talk about what’s real, what’s garbage (literally), and what you can do about it.
Myth #1: Compostable = Biodegradable
Reality: All compostable items are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable items are compostable—and that distinction matters.
“Biodegradable” means it eventually breaks down, but it might take years or decades and still leave microplastics behind. “Compostable,” on the other hand, is supposed to break down into organic matter that feeds the soil—but only under the right conditions.
Myth #2: Compostable Products Break Down in Landfills
Reality: A landfill is an anaerobic (oxygen-starved) environment. Composting is aerobic (oxygen-rich). If you toss compostable packaging in the trash, it’s headed to a place where it won’t break down at all.
Instead, it might sit there for decades, right next to plastic. Without air, water, and microbial activity, even the most “eco” packaging just adds bulk to our waste crisis.
Myth #3: You Can Compost Packaging at Home
Reality: Most compostable packaging is not home compostable.
The majority of these products—especially those made from bioplastics like PLA—need industrial-scale heat and microbial activity to break down. Home compost piles rarely get hot enough. So even if you’re composting like a pro in your backyard, those forks and to-go containers will still be sitting there next season.
The Truth About Labels
There are two main types of certified compostable products:
- Home Compostable – Rare. Labeled with certifications like TUV OK Compost HOME. Will break down in backyard bins eventually—though even these can take longer than food scraps or paper.
- Industrial Compostable – Most common. Needs commercial facilities like the ones we run at Metro Compost & Grow.
If it’s not explicitly labeled “home compostable,” assume it needs to go into a commercial composting stream.
So What Should You Do?
- Know the end of the line.
If your city or service (like ours) doesn’t process industrial compostables, don’t waste money buying them. That “green” fork is headed to the landfill anyway. - Use certified compostable only when necessary.
When you can’t use reusable, opt for real compostables—but only if they’ll be composted the right way. - Set up collection through a real compost service.
If you’re in Metro Detroit, we’ll make sure your compostable packaging gets where it needs to go. We accept BPI-certified packaging through our commercial composting stream. - Educate your customers and staff.
If you run a restaurant or café, don’t just buy compostables—build the system to collect and compost them properly. Otherwise, it’s just greenwashing.
Closing Thought: It’s Not the Packaging. It’s the System.
We don’t just need better packaging—we need better systems. Compostable materials only make sense when there’s a complete loop: production, use, collection, and processing. That’s what we’re building at Metro Compost & Grow.
We’re not here for half-measures. We’re here to rebuild the soil, reduce real waste, and create a city-wide system that actually works.