DOST Thou Biodegrade?

SOMETHING SMELLS—17 October 2012

DOST Thou Biodegrade?

By Alan S. Gensoli

Certain societies recycle certain types of plastics because of their access to certain types of recycling technologies. Logically then, absent of these technologies, recycling cannot take place. San Francisco and Boston, for instance, totally ban the use of plastic shopping bags because a curbside recycling program that would take plastic bags is not available. In places where plastic bags may be recycled, people are even required to bring their bags to the recycling facility. Would they? When in doubt, an outright ban is more practical. It seems, this is not the case in the Philippines. Here, instead of banning the plastic bag, we label it “biodegradable”. Here, we allow plastic bag manufacturers and retailers to dupe us into “buying” their idea of  “biodegradable” plastic bags because we are generally an accepting lot, quick to assume that “biodegradable” means “compostable”.  And here lies our basic problem: We get lost in translation. I am not a scientist, nor have I ever pretended to be one, but I refuse to be detoured by gobbledygook from what my eyes can plainly see: plastic bags clogging waterways, causing floods, contaminating groundwater, emitting carbon, etc., etc., etc.

Even while on vacation with family, Mother Earth Chairperson Sonia Mendoza does not take a break from sharing information that is urgently needed to help along our knowledge about solid waste management, in this case, knowledge about plastic bags. The documents she sent me vindicate my suspicion that some plastic bags that claim to be biodegradable are, in fact, not compostable, which is what we want. Also, that the act of confusing the public may be a conscious corporate decision to take advantage of a population that is largely indifferent. Let us rummage through the web of terminologies: Degradable, Biodegradable, Oxo-Biodegradable, Biomate.

DEGRADABLE. This is the short form of the word “biodegradable” so it has no more significance beyond that. Suffice it to say that “degradable” is not popularly used, often read in scientific papers and heard in scientific speeches for or against petroleum-based plastic bags. 

BIODEGRADABLE. This is the long form of degradable, but the more often used, popularized by its appearance on plastic shopping bags. For this reason, I have criticized the indiscriminate and impulsive use of the term. “Biodegradable” is a motherhood word that encompasses all plastic bags that break down. But the process and the end-products differ considerably. Petroleum-based plastic bags disintegrate or fragment into particles known as plastic polymers, because that’s what petroleum-based plastic bags are made from. We cannot expect petroleum-based plastics to break down into organic form. We cannot expect an apple tree to bear oranges, can we? Plastic polymers in open dumps seep into the ground and contaminate our groundwater source. Or, they can wash away through our canals and out to sea where they will threaten to choke sea creatures. Meanwhile, starch-based plastic bags, because they are made from corn, potato, cassava, and the like, will decompose into organic matter, as leaves and wood will, as well as paper bags, coffee cups, and food take-out containers made from carton. Also known as “compostable” plastic bags, they must, however, decompose within 90 days, not from one to five years! The word “biodegrable” innocently puts both types of plastic bags together, giving the bad a chance to look good. It is little wonder then that plastic bag manufacturers and some supermarkets use “Biodegradable” on their plastic bags. If they are sincere, they should print OXO-BIODEGRABLE.

OXO-BIODEGRABLE. This is the official word for petroleum-based plastic bags. Thus, even those who make this kind don’t mention it, nor print it on their plastic shopping bags. Nothing compels them to do that, certainly not their business sense. Besides, why should they when “Oxo-Biodegradable” is also “Biodegradable”? As my favorite fruit vendor in Vietnam would say, “same same but different”. Petroleum-based plastic bags will disintegrate into toxic polymers through exposure to heat and oxygen. This presents another disadvantage. Because they require heat and oxygen, the bags must be kept in open garbage dumps, not in covered sanitary landfills. Pretty logical but horribly wrong, because now we justify using open dumps to justify using plastic bags, and vice versa. Furthermore, we learn that petroleum-based plastic bags will take over a thousand years to disintegrate. Independent tests reported on Mother Earth News claim that plastic bags have been hung out in hot, arid conditions for months, in the end showing no visible sign of disintegration. 

 BIOMATE. Several weeks back, the Dept. of Science and Technology said that it has a product, called Biomate, that when sprayed on plastic bags (we assume petroleum-based), will cause the bags to biodegrade. Can I spray that on my apple tree to pick oranges in Spring time? I am not trying to be difficult, facetious maybe, but we must stay on guard against biodegradability claims that come in organic wool. As it is, our plastic bag situation is bad, so that to opt for a wrong solution just because it is ready and cheap will send us straight to the fire. Starch-based plastic bags are expensive, I know, but if the DOST declares that only starch-based plastic bags may be used, I am sure that manufacturers will gain economies of scale to make this accessible to all. Until then, katcha!