Biodegradable Products May Be Bad for the Environment
Research from North Carolina State University shows that so called biodegradable products are likely doing more harm than good in landfills, because they are releasing a powerful greenhouse gas as they break down.
"Biodegradable materials,chi flat iron, such as disposable cups and utensils,lululemon canada, are broken down in landfills by microorganisms that then produce methane,coach factory outlet," says Dr. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that only about 35 percent of municipal solid waste goes to landfills that capture methane for energy use. EPA estimates that another 34 percent of landfills capture methane and burn it off on site,michael kors, while 31 percent allow the methane to escape.
"In other words," Barlaz says,nike mercurial, "biodegradable products are not necessarily more environmentally friendly when disposed in landfills."
This problem may be exacerbated by the rate at which these man made biodegradable materials break down. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines call for products marked as "biodegradable" to decompose within "a reasonably short period of time" after disposal. But such rapid degradation may actually be environmentally harmful,sac michael kors, because federal regulations do not require landfills that collect methane to install gas collection systems for at least two years after the waste is buried. If materials break down and release methane quickly,jordans for sale, much of that methane will likely be emitted before the collection technology is installed. This means less potential fuel for energy use, and more greenhouse gas emissions.
As a result,replica watches, the researchers find that a slower rate of biodegradation is actually more environmentally friendly, because the bulk of the methane production will occur after the methane collection system is in place. Some specific biodegradable products such as bags that hold yard waste and are always sent to composting or anaerobic digestion facilities were not included in the study.
"If we want to maximize the environmental benefit of biodegradable products in landfills,tory burch shoes," Barlaz says,marc by marc jacobs, "we need to both expand methane collection at landfills and design these products to degrade more slowly in contrast to FTC guidance."



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