Dive Brief:
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Standards Board on Tuesday voted unanimously against adding synthetic compostable materials as compost feedstocks to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. That list in part stipulates which substances can be used in organic crops or processed organic products.
- The board determined that the broad classes of materials it was evaluating did not meet necessity, environmental and human health, and sustainable agriculture criteria for the National List. But going forward, the group said it’s open to evaluating individual substances, as some showed potential to meet those criteria. It would also consider allowing broader classes of substances with more restricted use patterns, such as for fruit stickers or collection bags.
- The board also concluded that it should consider paper’s role as a compost feedstock at its next sunset review. The current allowance for paper “does not adequately address contamination concerns these synthetic compost feedstocks pose,” according to the board.
Dive Insight:
The vote at Tuesday’s meeting wraps up a multiyear review process, but questions on implications remain.
In October 2023, USDA’s National Organic Program, which develops and enforces consistent national standards for organic products sold in the U.S., asked the NOSB to evaluate a petition from the Biodegradable Products Institute for rulemaking. Adding synthetic compost feedstocks to the National List would require a recommendation by NOSB and rulemaking by NOP.
NOSB commissioned a technical review on the issue, which BPI rebutted. The board also sought feedback through public comments, which the board said revealed “overwhelming support” for keeping compostable polymers out of organic compost.
NOSB’s concerns included a correlation between postconsumer food waste – “a waste stream that compostable polymers facilitate,” noted NOSB board member and organic farmer Nate Lewis – and PFAS contamination. States appear increasingly interested in assessing PFAS levels in compost amid broader concerns about the persistent chemicals.
Another virtual meeting participant noted that when composters do accept this type of food service ware or packaging, it’s because they want the food scraps that come with it, not the packaging itself.
Many composters are screening out compostable polymers altogether, Lewis said, to avoid contamination from other plastic lookalikes diverted by confused consumers.
“We are not hearing them asking for more compostable polymers. We are hearing them ask for less contamination in the food waste they accept,” said Lewis, the vice chair of NOSB’s crops subcommittee.
NOSB’s decisions on what’s allowed in organic compost hold particular weight in California. Under a 2021 law aimed at tightening “compostable” labeling, the item would have to be an allowable agricultural organic input, as defined by NOP. That requirement was set to take effect Jan. 1 of this year, but CalRecycle granted an extension to June 30, 2027.
