How to Dispose of Compostable Dishes

Compostable products, which differ from recyclable products, are made from biodegradable and environmentally friendly items. For example, some compostable plates and dishes are made from items such as sugar cane, wheat grass or bagasse which is a residue of sugar cane. Sturdy enough for food usage, compostable plates help keep trash and refuse down. Disposing of compostable plates requires working with the right type of facility to handle the plates and the proper disposal necessary to keep the eco-friendly premise of the plates intact.

Things You'll Need

• Box or bag
• Water

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Instructions

• 1

  Rinse the compostable dishes with water. Use a bucket or basin filled with water to rinse the plates to avoid having water running for the process.

• 2

  Place all the rinsed-off dishes into a box or bag. Weigh the box to determine how much the compostable dishes weigh in total. Write down this figure.

• 3

  Contact a recycling facility located close to you that specifically handles compostable products. Not all recycling centers handle them, as they need to be handled in a manner similar to composting organic matter. Make sure to ask the drop-off procedures for compostable dishes once you have located a facility close to you.