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Composting Guide

Composting Guide

How to properly compost sugarcane bagasse, PLA, and kraft paper packaging.

Why Composting Matters

Choosing compostable packaging is only half the equation — it only delivers its environmental benefit when it is actually composted. Compostable packaging sent to landfill breaks down slowly in anaerobic conditions and may release methane. This guide helps you understand how to dispose of ZenPacks products correctly.

Australian Composting Standards

  • AS 4736 (Industrial Composting) — Products break down in a commercial composting facility within 90 days at temperatures above 55°C.
  • AS 5810 (Home Composting) — Products break down in a home compost bin within 180 days at ambient temperatures.

Composting Sugarcane Bagasse

Bagasse is one of the most compostable materials in food service packaging, made from natural plant fibre.

Industrial Composting

  1. Scrape or rinse excess food from the container.
  2. Place in your FOGO (Food Organics Garden Organics) bin.
  3. The material will break down within 90 days at the composting facility.

Home Composting

  1. Tear or break the container into smaller pieces.
  2. Add to your compost bin along with green materials (food scraps, grass clippings).
  3. Keep the compost moist and turn it regularly.
  4. Bagasse typically breaks down within 60–90 days in a well-maintained home compost.

Composting PLA Cups and Lids

PLA requires the high temperatures of an industrial composting facility (55°C+) to break down correctly. It will not break down adequately in a home compost bin.

  1. Empty the cup of all liquids.
  2. Place in the FOGO bin or industrial compost stream.
  3. Do NOT place in recycling bins — PLA is not recyclable.

Composting Kraft Paper

Uncoated kraft paper is both recyclable and compostable.

  • Recycling: Clean, uncoated kraft paper can go in the paper recycling bin. Heavily soiled paper is not suitable for recycling.
  • Composting: Tear into small pieces and add to home compost or FOGO bin. Kraft paper is a carbon-rich "brown" material — balance with nitrogen-rich "green" food scraps. Breaks down within 2–6 weeks.

Quick Reference Table

Material Home Compost Industrial Compost Recycling
Sugarcane Bagasse Yes Yes No
PLA Cups & Lids No Yes No
Kraft Paper (clean) Yes Yes Yes
Bamboo Cutlery Yes (slow) Yes No