Corn a La Plastic - The Mistruth Of Biodegradable PLA

So you think you’re doing your part, purchasing your salad in a clear clamshell made with corn based plastic (PLA or Polylactic Acid).  Proponents of PLA say that they are a good alternative to petroleum based plastics because they (a) biodegrade and thus won’t last forever like normal plastic, and (b) are made from corn which is a renewable resource.


What the masses are not told is that corn based plastic requires an Industrial Composting Facility to heat the bioplastic to a high enough temperature in order for it to break down. Corn-based plastic will take just as long as regular plastic to break down in the landfills (very few things break down in landfills actually....) or on the curb of your sidewalk. Furthermore, since they look just like conventional plastic, they are often times thrown in with other recyclables, thus contaminating the recycling process and reducing its market value.

This recycling contamination issue has actually led to the banning of biodegradable plastic bags by the City of Toronto, which has plans to ban all biodegradable plastics in the future. 

So what should we do in the mean time?  Use a reusable container or bag, reduce wherever possible, and avoid any type of plastic would be my best bet.