Tee Cee's Tip

DEAR TEE CEE, I WAS READING AN ARTICLE ABOUT PLASTIC CONTAMINATION IN COMPOST, AND IT GOT

ME THINKING >> are stickers on produce also a problem for compost, and if they are, why are they made of plastic? How likely can they transition to a compostable type of sticker?

Thanks, Vic

DEAR VIC, YES, PLASTIC PRODUCE STICKERS ARE DEFINITELY A PROBLEM FOR COMPOSTERS. JUST SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE >> The compost guidelines have recently been simplified by our regional compost manufacturer to “food scraps and plant and yard trimmings only.” The goal is that by simplifying what goes in our curbside compost carts, we can do a better job of making a highquality finished compost product for use by farmers and gardeners. And the hope is to keep out contaminants like plastic, glass, and “look alike” packaging that masquerades as compostable but actually contains plastic. But as you point out, Vic — our produce usually comes with plastic stuck to it.

That little plastic produce sticker might seem like a tiny thing to worry about but multiply your one sticker on your orange peel by the thousands and thousands of stickers coming in on all the rinds and peels collected at the curb in compost carts. Now you have a big problem for compost manufacturers because those plastic stickers do not fully biodegrade.

Rather than fully decomposing, plastics break down into smaller dustlike microplastics that pollute soils, water, air, and air. Microplastics are being linked to negative effects on wildlife, the environment, and human health. That’s why composter manufacturers want to eliminate even these plastics from the materials they receive. It should go without saying — but because we often get the question — plastic produce stickers are NOT edible!

Even if you find a produce sticker that claims to be compostable, biodegradable, or plant-based, it should stay out of your compost cart. These terms are unregulated and have led to confusion and compost contamination. Alternative types of non-plastic stickers do exist, but they’re a long way from being the norm and acceptable in a curbside bin

So please help desticker. Make it a habit that when you purchase produce from the store, remove all stickers from the whole produce — it’s much easier to remove stickers from a whole banana than from the peel. Even better, with spring around the corner, avoid these pesky stickers altogether by supporting local farmers who don’t use them. Not only will you dodge the sticker, but you will also support your neighboring farmers and reduce the massive amount of transportation emissions involved in distributing food around the world.

— Tee Cee