Recycling & Disposal
What is the best way to dispose of Bionatic (organic) disposable packaging after use? What does it mean when articles are certified compostable? Does bioplastics actually decompose in nature without being harmful? How is the Dual System settled? We can easily understand these considerations and have therefore compiled some information on the subject of disposal. We will of course be happy to answer any further questions on these topics for you.
Used Packaging: Residual Waste or Recycling?
Even if it may sound unusual at first, our answer is: both are possible. The processing of recyclable waste (yellow bag, yellow bin, or collection containers for packaging) is regulated in Germany through dual systems. Companies in the recycling industry are responsible for the collection, sorting, and material-optimized recovery of sales and single-use packaging.
However, in reality, not everything that is correctly disposed of in recycling waste is actually recycled. Depending on the material and sorting quality, parts of the recyclable waste are processed into fuels and used in industry – ultimately ending up in thermal recovery as well.
For packaging made from plant-based raw materials, thermal recovery has a particular aspect: the CO₂ released during this process essentially corresponds to the amount previously absorbed by the plant – meaning no additional fossil carbon is released. Where material recycling is technically not possible, energy recovery of bio-based materials can therefore be an ecologically sound alternative.
Are Bioplastic Packaging Materials Recyclable?
In principle, yes: bioplastics such as PLA (polylactic acid) are technically recyclable on a material basis. Studies show that they can generally be distinguished from conventional plastics during the sorting process.
In practice, however, bioplastics in Germany are currently not usually recycled separately. The available quantities are still too low to operate dedicated recycling streams economically. Plastic packaging has accounted for a significant volume in Germany for years – for example, around 2.6 million tonnes were recorded in 2009 (Information from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment). In contrast, the share of bio-based plastics in the overall plastics market, according to the National Circular Economy Strategy, is currently only around 1%.
Due to their still low market share, bioplastics are currently predominantly used for energy recovery. However, as their market share grows, specialized recycling solutions could become economically viable in the future.
Is Bioplastic Biodegradable?
Bio-based plastics such as PLA can be biodegraded under certain conditions. Industrial composting facilities with controlled temperatures and humidity levels are crucial for this process.
In natural environments or in home garden compost, however, such materials decompose much more slowly. Therefore, we recommend disposing of them through the designated collection systems rather than via organic waste.
It is also important to note: “bio-based” does not automatically mean “freely biodegradable in the environment.” Proper disposal remains essential even for bioplastics.
Do Compostable Packaging Materials Belong in Organic Waste?
Many of our products carry the Bio icon according to DIN EN 13432. This means that they are biodegradable under industrial composting conditions. In suitable facilities, they can largely decompose within approximately 90 days.
In practice, however, many composting facilities operate with shorter rotting cycles. In addition, compostable plastics are often sorted out as a precaution, as they are visually difficult to distinguish from conventional plastics. For this reason, the composting of packaging is currently not intended in many areas or is only technically feasible to a limited extent.
Even though composting may initially seem logical because the material is bio-based, this process also requires energy and resources. We recommend disposal in accordance with local waste management guidelines – in many regions, the material currently ends up in residual waste, where it is used for energy recovery.
Compostable packaging does not belong in organic waste – as it does not decompose quickly enough in most facilities and is sorted out – nor in the yellow bin, where it can interfere with the recycling process of conventional plastics as a contaminant.
A Few Words on the Dual System
The dual systems are privately organized companies financed by the distributors of sales and single-use packaging for their collection and recovery. Distributors are those companies that place filled packaging on the market for the first time and supply it to private end consumers. The license fees to be paid are determined, among other things, by the material type and weight of the packaging.
The existing sorting and recycling infrastructure has historically been designed for the large material streams of conventional plastics, which still account for the majority of the market. Bio-based plastics currently represent only a small share of the total volume. Accordingly, specialized recycling structures for these materials have so far been established only to a limited extent.
With the further development of packaging legislation – in particular through the German Packaging Act (VerpackG) – recycling requirements and material flow management have been further advanced in recent years. As the market share of bio-based plastics increases, their economic recovery structures could also continue to expand in the future.
How can distributors settle accounts with the "Dual System"?
We are happy to support our customers as the distributor of Green Box packaging in settling accounts with the dual system. On request, we can settle the disposal fees directly with our partner Noventiz.
Further information
If you would like more information on this topic, you will find an interesting question and answer database of DSD GmbH (Grüne Punkt). Noventiz is one of the partners of the dual system.
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