Drink cups from fast food compostable?

11 years ago

I have usually added drink cups from say Taco Bell once shredded into compost. I have been finding a plastic layer which seems like the only source could be from these cups. Do they add a hidden layer of plastic between the paper layers or something? I have noticed food containers like ice cream boxes have this plastic layer and I no longer add those types of containers. It is weird as once I am tearing the cups into small pieces, I never feel the resistance of plastic. Normally if I rip it apart slowly I'd see the pull of plastic but with the cups I never see it. I assumed the cups were paper with a wax layer. Help me solve this mystery.

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Comments (12)

toxcrusadr
11 years ago
Yes they do have that layer in there somewhere. I am not sure whether it's on one side or the other, or embedded in the middle. It's not just paraffin wax like it used to be, it's actually a plastic film of some sort. I'm not sure why you can tear the cup and not notice it, it's a mystery.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years ago
Generally, it's an interior coating intended to make the cups waterproof. And it is polyethylene. You can certainly compost the cups but that plastic (less than 5% of the total volume) will hang around :-)

There are 100% biodegradable 'ecotainers' now available that are treated with a cornstarch-based plastic. And waxed cups are kinda passe :-) The public health fairies have determined that imbibing wax (melted, flaked or chewed off) is potentially quite hazardous to your health and so the more progressive fast food places discontinued them starting in the 90's.
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pkapeckopickldpepprz
Original Author
11 years ago
Well I will stop adding the drink cups then as I abhore finding small flaps of plastic film in my finished compost. Since we are on the topic, does anyone know if the same phenominon exists as far as there being some plastic film on what Taco Bell uses for the wrappers for burritos or tacos? Same question for McDonald's wrappers from their burgers or french fry containers.
toxcrusadr
11 years ago
No idea, but the company's websites may have the answers, or you could contact them through their sites and ask. Corporations that size have sustainability people who would know.

And post the results, we'd be interested!
RpR_
11 years ago
Question:
I have saved, I am cheap, coffee cups from various places and used them till they leaked.
I have found no plastic liner in those, why would they not have them also?
Eventually they get soft and get pin hole leaks but I had used some for months, used repeatedly.

I am just curious.
pkapeckopickldpepprz
Original Author
11 years ago
Any new info if wrappers have a plastic lining to them?
mirendajean (Ireland)
11 years ago
The McDonald's paper wrappers are 100% paper and compost completely. Im not sure about the paper boxes used for the larger burgers.

M
toxcrusadr
11 years ago
Maybe there is no plastic film in paper coffee cups because it would give off plasticizers into hot liquid, but not into cold.
pkapeckopickldpepprz
Original Author
11 years ago
I keep finding more plastic shards and I don't add that many cups so I am suspecting some of the food wrappers also have this film. I'm thinking of bean burrito or taco wrappers from taco bell or the cardboard container for fries or the wrappers from burgers or breakfast items at McDonalds may have this hidden layer.
toxcrusadr
11 years ago
Sounds like your diet is affecting your compost.

Imagine what it's doing to your insides!

LOL
pkapeckopickldpepprz
Original Author
11 years ago
I don't eat it too often and surprisingly my cholesterol is 160. Probably could lose 10# but overall in good shape. Bottom line is once you become a composter, you want to compost anything that is biodegradable and plastic is not my idea of biodegradeable.
toxcrusadr
11 years ago
Agreed, composite materials are one of the annoying things in life for us composter/recyclers.

I have cholesterol envy, you lucky duck. I can be a good boy and it's still well north of 200, so I have to take the pill. :-[

Drink cups from fast food compostable?

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toxcrusadr

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

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Drink cups from fast food compostable?

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