How To Compost Eco-Friendly Disposable Plates at Home?: A Step by Step Guide

If you are a big-time host and gatherings are a part of your plans, disposables can always come in handy. They are easy to use, easy to dispose of and just convenient, especially if you hate doing the dishes later. However, if you are still using plastic plates, you need an upgrade. Compostable plates are a helpful substitute for single-use plastic plates. 

Below are some steps on how to compost compostable plates at home and why they are a better option for hosting gatherings or making your meal times sustainable:

Step 1: Choose the Proper type of Disposable Plates

Disposable plates are not always compostable. Avoid plates with thick printing or plastic coatings as they may cause problems with the composting process. Use compostable disposable plates made from plant-based materials like sugarcane bagasse, bamboo, or palm leaves. These eco-friendly disposable plates are made to compost and return back to the earth without harming the environment.

Before placing "compostable disposable plates" in a compost bin, always read the labels. This promotes a sustainable and healthy lifestyle and makes sure your disposable plates are safe to compost at home.

Step 2: Prepare the Compostable Plates

Make sure your disposable plates are clean of any greasy or oily food before composting them. Food waste may slow down the composting process and attract bugs. When tearing each plate into smaller pieces, give it a wipe or rinse to speed up the composting process.

When you add materials like fruit scraps, vegetable peels, and dried leaves to your compostable plates, they will blend in perfectly with the compost pile and start to transform into nutrient-rich compost for your plants. 

Step 3: Balance Your Compost Mix

To create healthy compost, balance the amount of "green" and "brown" materials in your compost bin.

• Examples of green materials include fresh leaves, coffee grounds, and fruit and vegetable peels.

• Examples of brown materials include paper, cardboard, dried leaves, and compostable plates.

Plates made of bamboo and bagasse plates are called "brown" materials due to their high carbon content. You should place kitchen scraps on top of your disposable compostable plates to maintain proper nitrogen proportion. This will promote proper breakdown without releasing bad odors.

Step 4: Maintain the Compost

To improve airflow after your pile is ready, turn it once a week. The compost should have a sponge-like consistency. It may begin to smell if it is too wet, and it will slow down decomposition if it is too dry. Composting can also be increased by using natural boosters like cow dung or grass cuttings. Your eco-friendly disposable plates will become dark, dry compost in a few months which is ready to be combined with garden soil.

Step 5: Check When the Compost Is Ready

When it smells and looks like fresh earth, the compost is ready. By the time the disposable compostable plates have composted into the soil, you won't recognize them. This nutrient-rich compost can be used for potted plants or your home garden. It's the most effective method for converting everyday waste such as disposable compostable plates into an organic fertilizer.

Why Are Compostable Plates Important?

When properly composted, Compostable plates decrease the landfill waste and recycle nutrients into the soil which are made from sugarcane residue. Unlike plastic plates, choosing disposable compostable plates is a simple step towards a sustainable lifestyle.

Eco-friendly disposable plates are made from bamboo, sugarcane bagasse, palm leaves, and other renewable plant materials which makes the plates safe for the environment. Plastic plates take hundreds of years to decompose while compostable plates help to create a clean and eco-friendly environment.

Wrapping Up!

One of the simplest and effective ways to live sustainably is to use disposable plates that are both eco-friendly and compostable. You can put some effort into recycling your waste into something that benefits the environment.

For that reason, the next time you host a picnic or party, use eco-friendly disposable plates that are good for the environment and compost them instead of throwing them into the garbage. Your efforts will be appreciated by Mother Earth.