Clippings: news for gardeners

Scientists are recruiting gardeners to test how biodegradable plant-based ‘bioplastics’ are. The Big Compost Experiment, run by University College London’s Plastic Waste Innovation Hub, signed up over 1,000 keen composters last year, to add ‘compostable’ caddy liners, teabags, magazine wrappers and carrier bags to their heaps.

The first year’s results show that over two-thirds of items remained almost intact. Experiment leader Danielle Purkiss says most bioplastics need industrial composting to break down, which most areas don’t have. “If they get put in kerbside organic waste, they’re screened out and incinerated,” she says. Helen Bird, of recycling charity WRAP, says bioplastics still break down faster than oil-based plastics, “but it’s best if unnecessary packaging is avoided.”

■ Help research into biodegradable waste at bigcompostexperiment.org.uk