In 1960, the average American generated 2.7 pounds of waste daily, and 94% of all waste generated went to a landfill, according to the EPA. Fast forward to 2018, the average American generated 4.9 lb. of daily waste, and due to innovations in recycling and composting, 50% of generated waste went to a landfill. While the recycling innovations are significant, the amount of material going to the landfill has still increased by 50% due to increased consumption and population.

A 2021 report by The Recycling Partnership titled “Paying it Forward” states that 40% of Americans do not have equitable recycling access. This means that 40% of the population can easily send their waste to a landfill but not a recycling center. The report also says that closing this gap would require $17 billion to be invested over five years. Unfortunately, no such investment is being made. That’s why technologies that make plastic waste landfill biodegradable are essential.

Landfills are, and will continue to be, an essential part of the post-use solution for many materials in our economy and households. Recycling is a better solution than biodegradation. Hopefully, one day, most of society’s waste will be recycled. However, Epsilyte understands that day is a long way off, and the plastic waste crisis is already here today. That is why we have invested in biodegradation technology.

Biodegradability matters because it offers a solution for plastic waste that cannot be recycled or properly disposed of. Microorganisms can break down biodegradable plastics into natural compounds like water and carbon dioxide. This process reduces the amount of plastic waste that goes to landfills or accumulates in the environment, minimizing the negative impact on our planet.

At Epsilyte, we are committed to developing and promoting sustainable solutions to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste. Our biodegradable products can break down in landfills, where traditional plastics take hundreds of years to degrade. By investing in biodegradability, we can minimize the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and protect the environment for future generations.

In conclusion, biodegradability matters because it solves the plastic waste crisis that today’s recycling system cannot solve. While recycling is an excellent way to reduce waste, biodegradable plastics provide an alternative for waste that is not being recycled, minimizing the amount of waste in landfills and the environment. We must invest in innovative solutions like biodegradability to reduce our environmental impact and create a more sustainable future while improving our recycling system.