This year we are thrilled to announce that, thanks to our sponsor Wessex Water and working in partnership with Chippenham Half Marathon. We will be providing fresh tap water and reducing the use of single use plastic cups. Contestants, families and friends will be able to fill their own bottles at any of the Wessex Water HydroZone refill stations.
Compostable Plastics
To qualify as “compostable,” a plastic product must meet 3 criteria:
- It biodegrades – The plastic must break down into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass at a rate similar to cellulose (aka wood and paper).
- It disintegrates – The plastic must leave behind no distinguishable pieces in the finished compost. It must break down and integrate entirely.
- It leaves no toxic residue – The finished compost must support plant growth and contain no toxic substances. Note that this isn’t a requirement for the term “biodegradable.”
So, while “degradable,” “biodegradable,” and “compostable” are often used interchangeably, they actually refer to distinct chemical processes. In summary:
- All compostable products are biodegradable.
- Not all biodegradable products are compostable.
- Everything, to a degree, is degradable.