What’s Going On Here?
Microplastics are making their way from our food bins and into our food chain. These non-biodegradable fragments have been found in organic fertilisers applied to farmland. Could a simple cuppa be to blame?
What Does This Mean?
If we dispose of food waste, it goes to landfill (definitely not cool). But if we recycle it in food waste bins, it is re-purposed at an anaerobic digestion plant (cool). By undergoing controlled anaerobic digestion (breakdown without air), our food waste can produce two really useful products:1. Produce Energy
In the form of Biogas, a mixture of Methane & CO2 which can be used as a fuel.
2. Organic Fertiliser
Biofertiliser, a Nitrogen-rich liquid, that is a key component of the compost spread on farmland that produces our food.
This all sounds gravy, but scientists are discovering an increasing amount of biofertiliser contains plastic, and a lot of it is coming from tea bags….
Why Should We Care?
Believe it or not, most household brands are really naughTea and use plastic in their teabags, including Tetley, PG Tips and Twinings. The plastic in tea bags may not sound like much but it soon adds up, That soon adds upconsidering the UK alone brews a cuppa 6bn times per year!
The side effects of humans consuming plastic is still relatively unknown but we do know the synthetic material has been in production for 50 years and last for 400+… so it ain’t going anywhere quick! ouch!
Be Curious
Keep recycling your food waste but be keep a curious.eye on what you are composting! Remove that avocado barcode sticker and be cute-tea by buying plastic free bags: Twinings “Loose Leaf” pyramids, Pukka Herb, Aldi “Special Range” & Waitrose “Dutchy” are all 100% compostable.
