This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
made directly by
at ___

Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

compostable

English answer:

capable of undergoing biological decomposition in a compost site…

Added to glossary by Davor Ivic
May 30, 2014 10:26
10 yrs ago
22 viewers *
English term

compostable

Non-PRO English Tech/Engineering Environment & Ecology
“To collect your organic waste, you can use compostable bags, but do not use plastic bags!”



Please note : The word compostable is very important (in the sentence). It should not be mistaken with biodegradable.
Responses
4 capable of undergoing biological decomposition in a compost site…
4 compostable " are
Change log

May 30, 2014 11:21: Yvonne Gallagher changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"

May 30, 2014 15:04: Tony M changed "Field" from "Social Sciences" to "Tech/Engineering"

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

PRO (1): acetran

Non-PRO (3): Carol Gullidge, Shera Lyn Parpia, Yvonne Gallagher

When entering new questions, KudoZ askers are given an opportunity* to classify the difficulty of their questions as 'easy' or 'pro'. If you feel a question marked 'easy' should actually be marked 'pro', and if you have earned more than 20 KudoZ points, you can click the "Vote PRO" button to recommend that change.

How to tell the difference between "easy" and "pro" questions:

An easy question is one that any bilingual person would be able to answer correctly. (Or in the case of monolingual questions, an easy question is one that any native speaker of the language would be able to answer correctly.)

A pro question is anything else... in other words, any question that requires knowledge or skills that are specialized (even slightly).

Another way to think of the difficulty levels is this: an easy question is one that deals with everyday conversation. A pro question is anything else.

When deciding between easy and pro, err on the side of pro. Most questions will be pro.

* Note: non-member askers are not given the option of entering 'pro' questions; the only way for their questions to be classified as 'pro' is for a ProZ.com member or members to re-classify it.

Discussion

Catharine Cellier-Smart May 30, 2014:
Lots of internet search results too If you just search for compostable vs biodegradable you'll find lots of explanations.
Carol Gullidge May 30, 2014:
with Sheila! Indeed, what is the question? Compostable of course means what it says: something that can be composted (which will break down in a compost heap?)
Sheila Wilson May 30, 2014:
What is your question? Did you intend asking for a translation? You've posted it as English monolingual.

Responses

4 hrs
Selected

capable of undergoing biological decomposition in a compost site…

Compostable Plastics or items certified as ASTM D6400 compliant are “capable of undergoing biological decomposition in a compost site…” (I spared you the longer version from the American Society for Testing & Materials or ASTM). Their definition of compostable ASTM D6400 compliant plastics goes on to say, for a plastic to be called “compostable”, they need to meet three criteria. They must:

Biodegrade
Disintegrate, and
Have no eco-toxicity

http://blog.recology.com/2010/07/12/compostable-vs-biodegrad...
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thx"
1 day 3 hrs

compostable " are

items can be put back into the ground to make SOIL " !
which is not the same as biodegradable.

biodegradable - "materials should break down in a reasonably short period of time after customary disposal".

More for info www.genpack.com/greeroom/biodegradable
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search