Plastics that are designed to degrade after use have been developed. These materials are intended to enhance existing solid waste landfill diversion programs by allowing difficult to recycle materials to be collected and processed in alternative solid waste disposal systems. Composting has emerged as a viable approach to process these materials and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW). A comprehensive testing program is needed to establish the compostability (for example, fragmentation rate, biodegradation rate, and safety) of these materials.

This guide can be adapted to generate product-specific evidence for the substantiation of compostable claims to obtain classification as a compostable product.

Note 4-State and local regulations should also be considered.