Lviv eco-activists urged Ukrainians to use biodegradable bags, which have begun to replace traditional ones in supermarkets, for the collection of organic waste and subsequent composting.
After all, from January 10, 2023, a ban on plastic bags with a thickness of up to 50 microns will come into effect, which will be replaced by reusable packaging for buyers, or certified biodegradable and paper bags, writes the head of the "Zero Waste Lviv" Iryna Myronova on Facebook.
Myronova noted that the experience of cities that have successfully implemented separate collection of organics shows that such packages "increase comfort" and people are more willing to participate in sorting garbage. After all, despite all communication, Lviv residents throw away organic matter in plastic bags, which then have to be sorted at a composting station.
However, collection in biodegradable bags makes the removal of organic waste easier and cheaper, and transporters will be able to pick up containers more often, which will also be tidier.
In Ukraine, biodegradable bags must meet the requirements of DSTU EN 13432:2015, an analogue of the European standard for bags suitable for composting in industrial conditions.
"In our supermarkets, there is a mark on the bags about composting at home (Home compostable). Such bags decompose even faster at a composting station, but please do not leave them in the environment. They will also be of no use in the landfill, but will eventually become landfill gas, mainly methane, and contribute to climate change," the eco-activist urged.
She also shared the results of her own testing of biodegradable bags for collecting organics from "Silpo", "Ashan", "ATB-Market".
"This process is stretched over time, so it is important that the biodegradable bag does not decompose before it gets into the container for organic waste and allows you to comfortably deliver the waste with as little liquid as possible," Myronova explained.
A 2 kg bag from "Silpo" already began to decompose within a week and turned out to be too thin for a 5 liter bucket. However, such bags can be used to collect organic matter with a volume of up to 3 liters and for faster use.
Testing of packages of other trading networks continues.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that for 31 years of independence, it became difficult for Ukrainians to imagine life without single-use plastic bags.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, in a new report by the Environmental Research Agency, experts warned humanity of an "emergency situation on the planet" from plastic pollution. This threat is as serious as climate change.
