BSI 20/30370141 DC:2020 Edition

This document specifies procedures and requirements for plastics, and products made from plastics, that are suitable for recovery through organic recycling. The four following aspects are addressed:

1. disintegration during composting;

2. ultimate aerobic biodegradation;

3. no adverse effects of compost on terrestrial organisms;

4. control of constituents.

These four characteristics are suitable to assess the effects on the industrial composting process and facility.

This specification is intended to be used as the basis for systems of labelling and claims for plastics materials and products.

This document does not provide information on requirements for the biodegradability of plastics which end up in the environment as litter. It is also not applicable to biological treatment undertaken in small installations by householders.

NOTE 1 The recovery of compostable plastics through composting can be carried out under the conditions found in well-managed industrial composting processes, where the temperature, water content, aerobic conditions, carbon/nitrogen ratio and processing conditions are optimized. Such conditions are generally obtained in industrial and municipal composting plants. Under these conditions, compostable plastics will disintegrate and biodegrade at rates comparable to yard trimmings, kraft paper bags and food scraps.

NOTE 2 “Organically recoverable”, “compostable”, “compostable in municipal and industrial composting facilities” or “biodegradable during composting” are expressions considered to be equivalent to organically recyclable for the purposes of this document.