Composting refuse helps reduce waste

MassLive.com, April 20, 2010

Composting is a great way to recycle our organic "waste" into a beneficial soil amendment for our yards and gardens.

Composting at home can also help reduce methane production at landfills. Using the compost in our landscapes helps store carbon in the soil instead of releasing it to the atmosphere.

Compost creates healthy soil, reducing or eliminating the need for fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation.

And, we can reduce our trash by 50 percent or more by composting leaves, grass clippings, garden debris, fruit peels, vegetable scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells, paper towels, napkins and even paper bags.

It's easy to make compost because most of the work is done by soil organisms that convert organic material to humus.

Build or purchase a compost bin. Enclosed compost piles keep out pests, hold heat and moisture in, and a have a neat appearance. They can be made of wire, wood, pallets, concrete blocks, metal and plastic.

Place the bin in a convenient, shady area that can be reached with your hose.

Build your compost pile using three parts "brown" material and one part "green" material. This provides food for the compost organisms in a recipe that will not create odors.

"Brown" ingredients include leaves, straw, dried grass clippings, wood chips, sawdust, pine needles, and paper products such as paper towels, napkins, bags, plates, coffee filters, tissue and newspaper.

"Green" materials include fresh grass clippings, weeds, fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, eggshells, manure, and seaweed. Make sure the materials are damp as you build the pile, especially the "browns."

As you build the pile, sprinkle on several shovelsful of rich garden soil or finished compost after every 12 inches of fresh material.

A compost pile that is about 3 feet square and 3 feet high will heat up and stay active throughout the winter. Smaller piles may not retain heat, but will still produce compost, though more slowly than larger piles.

Once your pile is built, continue to add fresh materials as they become available. Always bury food scraps in the center of the pile under about 6 inches of leaves, where they will decompose odorlessly. If leaves are in short supply, add plenty of paper towels, napkins and torn up paper bags to provide the necessary carbon, and always bury your food scraps under this material.

Add water to your pile if it becomes dry to the touch. The composting organisms need a damp, humid environment to do their work. A plastic cover will help your compost pile retain the moisture you add, but remember to take the cover off when it rains so you won't need to add water as often.

Turn your pile, fluff it with a hoe or turning tool, or build air passages into the pile to keep your compost pile aerobic and odor-free. Or, use a compost bin that allows air to penetrate the pile. The compost critters need oxygen, just as we do. Lack of oxygen will slow down the composting process and cause odors.

In about three months, the material will start to turn to compost. The material at the bottom of the pile will be ready first. As more time goes by, the level of compost in the pile will rise until it is easy to access just below the surface. You will know your compost is ready to use when it looks like rich, brown soil and no longer resembles the original materials.

Compost benefits all plants, and there are many different ways to use it.

Add a handful of compost to each transplant hole when planting seedlings or potted plants. Spread another handful on the surface of the soil around the newly planted seedling, making sure that the compost is not touching the stem or trunk of the plant. This mulch layer will help hold moisture in the soil and add nutrients in a time-release fashion.

Spread compost around perennials, shrubs and other existing plantings. If you are planting seeds, apply one-half to 3 inches of compost and mix it in with the top four inches of soil in the seedbed. To rejuvenate lawns, screen your compost using ½-inch screening. The mesh trays used for holding and transporting potted plants from nurseries work well as ready-made compost screens.

Sprinkle the screened compost on the lawn about ¼-inch deep. Screened compost is also excellent for reseeding lawns. Sprinkle it ½-inch deep over the bare spots and distribute new grass seed on top. You can even make excellent potting soil with compost by mixing equal parts compost, sand and loam.

The state Department of Environmental Protection has banned disposal of leaves, yard waste and grass clippings with regular trash.

Yard waste makes up about 18 percent of typical household waste, and it is more environmentally sound to recycle this material by composting it than to dispose of it in landfills or incinerators.

Grass clipping should be left on the lawn, where they will return nutrients to the turf and improve the soil.

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Home composters and compost bins are available from Charlotte Energy Solutions.

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Kids can make earth-friendly pots this Earth Day

Wicked Local Woburn, April 19, 2010

Woburn, MA — To celebrate Earth Day, the Children’s Room of the Woburn Public Library invites children of all ages to come in and make earth-friendly pots, then plant seeds to take home and grow.

Pots will be made from newspaper, so participants will be recycling and using a biodegradable pot at the same time. Seeds, earth, and pot-making materials will be supplied.

The event is Thursday, April 22, from 11 a.m. to noon. Children under the age of 7 should have an adult accompany them to help.

Handicapped accessibility can be arranged; contact the Children’s Room one week before the program at 781-937-0405 for further information.

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Here's the dirt on biodegradable plant pots

By Jim Hole, Edmonton Journal, April 15, 2010

Photo: Biodegradable rice pots are used for the huge crop of geraniums at Hole's Greenhouses in St. Albert. Photo by: Candace Elliott, The Journal, Freelance

There's always a little history repeating in the greenhouse business. When I was a kid, Mom and Dad grew most of our plants in brown, fibre pots. The containers provided an excellent environment for roots, but had one major problem -- the bottoms rapidly rotted.

Eventually, we switched to lightweight, easy-to-handle plastic containers when they became both available and affordable. In the greenhouse industry, plastic became firmly embedded as the standard. But now, we're returning to our roots.

The demand for more eco-friendly products has led to the development of biodegradable containers, meant specifically for the greenhouse industry. And let me tell you, they're a far cry from the rotten-bottomed pots of my childhood.

Not only are these new containers great for growing in, but they also biodegrade after they've served their purpose. And because they decompose, therefore bypassing the landfill, they enrich your garden soil.

On the sustainability scale, they score high.

So just what are these biodegradable pots I'm talking about? Well, most aren't season-long pots; they're growing-in-until-it's-time-to-transplant pots. They're still a bit more expensive than plastic pots, but I think the additional cost is well worth it. Eliminating plastics and giving back to the earth are good reasons to switch. Besides, there really isn't a price tag we can put on our environment.

So with no further ado, here's some info on the biodegradable pots I'm using this year. Note that the fibres in each type of pot are held together by naturally occurring plant resins, which are also biodegradable.

COIR FIBRE POTS

Coir fibres are found between the outer shell of a coconut and the internal shell that protects the seed. They are stringy, flexible and tough enough to be woven. Most coir comes from stockpiles found in Sri Lanka and India. The fibre is also compressed and sold as a substitute for peat moss. Coir pots are probably the least attractive of the biodegradables I've tried, but their permeability is great for increasing vital airflow around roots.

RICE POTS

Rice pots are the most durable and esthetically pleasing of the biodegradables we're using. Smooth, shiny and earth-toned, they're some of the most attractive pots I've ever seen -- biodegradable or otherwise.

The downside, however, is that rice pots are rather brittle, which means they're prone to cracking. At the end of the season, though, that brittleness becomes an advantage -- with one stomp, the pot is reduced to tiny bits, which decompose quickly. Last, but certainly not least, these pots are made from rice hulls rather than the grain itself, so there's no diversion of food to create these containers.

WHEAT POTS

Considering how widely available wheat chaff is, it's not surprising that someone's transformed it into a usable product. Wheat pots are much more pliable than rice ones, which makes them less susceptible to cracking.

However, the green hue of wheat pots also makes them less esthetically pleasing than their competition.

Wheat pots also biodegrade more rapidly than pots made from rice or coir. But that's not a bad thing -- decomposition is what these containers are all about. Just be aware that wheat versions are destined for the compost as soon as you remove the transplants.

While each type of biodegradable pot has its own attributes, all are excellent choices for fostering sustainability. At our greenhouse, we aren't shifting to 100 per cent biodegradable pots just yet. Part of the reason is that a complete product line isn't available. The other reasoning is that plastic still has a place in the greenhouse.

In all likelihood, biodegradable substitutes may eventually eliminate the need for any plastic pots. We are, after all, back to an era where rot is hot.

To keep abreast of what's new in the gardening world, follow twitter.com/holesonline.

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New rules for yard waste pickup: city

CBC News, April 15, 2010

Homeowners in an area of Winnipeg still contending with changes in how their garbage is collected have been told they'll also face upheaval in how they dispose of their yard waste.

Starting in the fall, people living in about 42,500 homes in the northwest part of the city will be required to use 100 per cent compostable bags to dispose of yard trimmings or the city will not pick them up from the curb.

The news comes just months after homes were given rolling garbage carts as the city first step toward automating the garbage collection process. The move was part of a cost-cutting and garbage-reduction effort.

But the new collection process didn't initially make accommodations for yard trimmings, angering some homeowners who said their single 240-litre cart wasn't big enough to be able to fit the bulky materials.

Recently, the city relented, saying that in May, they would begin curbside pickup of yard waste.

However, the city has now mandated that homeowners will soon have to use — and pay for — the biodegradable bags which are vegetable-based, and not made out of petroleum compounds like regular black bags.

However, CBC News has discovered that currently, the bags are in short supply at major stores. A visit to six retail outlets on Thursday revealed only one of the stores – Rona – appeared to carry any stock of the bags.

One homeowner affected by the change said she's impressed by the idea, but admitted being frustrated by the lack of supply.

"It's a great idea, except we can't find them anywhere … or they don't have them in stock yet because Manitoba is just catching on with the biodegradable stuff," said Pina Tunney.
Retailers on notice

But Randy Park of the city's water and waste department said local and national retailers have been told of the city's plans and have requested an ample supply be made available.

"We believe that these items will be readily available in local stores shortly," Park said in an email.

Until the change to biodegradable bags takes effect, homeowners can use the following to toss their yard trimmings, which will be collected on a bi-weekly basis.

* Any reusable container without a lid, such as plastic tubs, metal or plastic garbage cans.

* Cardboard boxes.

* Paper yard waste bags made from weather-resistant paper that breaks down over time.

* Any certified compostable bag.

The city would ideally like to be able to use the trimmings it collects as compost to be used at parks and on boulevards, but because of plastic shards left by bags shredded during the mulching process, it has been unable to.

The bags have instead been tipped at the Brady Road Landfill, mulched and spread over garbage heaps.

With files from Mychaylo Prystupa

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Simple(R) Shoes Celebrates Earth Day with Its Collection of Biodegradable Footwear

New BIO.D Collection Biodegrades in 20 Years as Opposed to the Industry Average of 1,000 Years
Press Release, MarketWatch, April 15, 2010

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., (BUSINESS WIRE) - Simple(R) Shoes (a division of Deckers Outdoor Corporation) /quotes/comstock/15*!deck/quotes/nls/deck (DECK 136.51, -1.49, -1.08%), a sustainable footwear company, happily celebrates Earth Day 2010 with its BIO.D Footwear Collection, offering consumers and eco-fashion lovers footwear that won't leave a mark on the environment.

This spring, Simple has unveiled its new men's and women's BIO.D shoe collection, featuring biodegradable soles. BIO.D products incorporate rubber, plastic and EVA (foaming material) that are manufactured using EcoPure, an organic compound that will eventually eat away at the bonds holding these materials together. This allows the midsoles and outsoles of the styles, when exposed to the moisture and heat typical of landfills, to biodegrade in 20 years as opposed to the industry average of 1,000 years.

"Our focus at Simple is to make better shoes--shoes that look good and are made sustainably," said Cielo Rios, Simple's Product Line Manager. "The BIO.D collection takes our efforts a serious step forward and we are happy to pioneer a new way to think about shoes--as something that won't sit in a landfill for an eternity."

The BIO.D collection for men and women includes classic Simple sneakers in the D-Solve for men and D-Kay for women along with a flip flop collection for the warm spring and summer months.

About Simple(R) Shoes: A Nice Little Shoe Company

Simple(R) Shoes , based in Santa Barbara, Calif., is committed to making shoes for a happy planet. Simple(R) Shoes began in 1991, as a reaction to the over-hyped, over-marketed, and over-teched sneakers that were dominating the early 90's. Since then, Simple has firmly planted its feet in making the most sustainable and stylish shoes and bags for everyone, everywhere. Simple is owned by Deckers Outdoor Corporation, and can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

About Deckers Outdoor Corporation

Deckers Outdoor Corporation strives to be a premier lifestyle marketer that builds niche brands into global market leaders by designing and marketing innovative, functional and fashion-oriented footwear developed for both high performance outdoor activities and everyday casual lifestyle use. Teva(R), Simple(R) Shoes, UGG(R) Australia, TSUBO(R), and Ahnu(R) are registered trademarks of Deckers Outdoor Corporation.

SOURCE: Simple(R) Shoes

R/West PR
Molly Gilbert, 503-223-5443 x118
mollyg@r-west.com

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Mother Earth News Finds Compostable Packaging Claims Half-Baked

The environmental magazine’s tests reveal materials don’t completely break down in home compost piles.
PRWeb, Press Release, EarthTimes, April 13, 2010

Topeka, Kan. (Vocus) - With more companies marketing plant-based bioplastic packaging as “100-percent biodegradable,” Mother Earth News, the leading magazine dedicated to green living, put these claims to the test.

The result? In most cases, the magazine’s lab tests found that “biodegradable” or “compostable” plastics do not decompose in home compost piles. The report also concludes that some companies’ labeling claims are incomplete and misleading.

“While we applaud companies’ efforts to develop more sustainable packaging materials, they need to be upfront about what their products will and won’t do,” says Cheryl Long, editor in chief of Mother Earth News.

Mother Earth News commissioned Woods End Laboratories, an independent facility that specializes in evaluating composts, soils and organic wastes, to test five types of bioplastic shopping bags.

Researchers followed industry standards (ASTM D6400) and monitored the bags for 25 weeks in three scenarios: The team found that none of the bags were completely compostable in typical home composting conditions. Only one of the samples, Mater-Bi made by Novamont, was about halfway degraded after 25 weeks, while BioTuf and Bag-To-Nature brands did well only at the higher temperatures found in commercial composting conditions. Oxo-Biodegradable, which had two samples in the study, didn’t break down at all in any of the scenarios.

The complete report and photos can be found online as well as featured in the June-July issue of Mother Earth News, on sale May 25.

About Mother Earth News
Mother Earth News (www.MotherEarthNews.com) is the Original Guide to Living Wisely. Launched in 1970, each bimonthly issue of Mother Earth News features practical and money-saving information on organic gardening; do-it-yourself projects; cutting energy costs; using renewable energy; green home building and remodeling; rural living; and conscientious, self-sufficient lifestyles.

About Ogden Publications
Ogden Publications Inc. (www.OgdenPubs.com) is the leading information resource serving the sustainable living, rural lifestyle, farm memorabilia and classic motorcycle communities. Key brands include Mother Earth News, Natural Home, Utne Reader, Capper’s and Grit. Ogden Publications also provides insurance and financial services through its Capper’s Insurance Service division.

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Source : PRWeb

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Biodegradable/bioabsorbable Interference Screws

Kunststoffe-international.com, April 13, 2010

Researchers have developed a new material based on PLA and hydroxylapatite for production of interference screws. The screws degrade biologically without leaving any holes in bones.

A torn ligament in the knee frequently requires an operation to restore stability to the joint. In the course of this operation, the physician replaces the ligament with a piece of tendon from the leg and secures it to the bone with a so-called interference screw. Until now, such screws have been fabricated from titanium - with the drawback that a second operation is required to remove it. Sometimes, biodegradable screws made from polylactic acid (PLA) are used. However holes occasionally remain in the bone after the screw has degraded.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research (IFAM) in Bremen have now developed interference screws that promote growth of bone in the implant and, depending on the formulation, degrade themselves within 24 months. The compressive strength of the material exceeds 130 N/mm². For comparison, real bone has a compressive strength between 130 and 180 N/mm².

The screws consist of an injection moldable formulation of PLA and hydroxylapatite. This mineral accounts for approximately 40% of the material in bone. In the medical field, it is used as a bone replacement or bioactive coating on titanium implants to improve bone growth. The newly developed composite contains a high percentage of hydroxylapatite and can be processed with excellent results in pellet form by means of injection molding. Complex geometries can be produced without the need for post-molding finishing operations. Moreover, the injection molding process has a beneficial side effect. Normally, the powder injection molded part must be densified after molding at very high temperatures of up to 1400°C. In contrast, the new composite material can be processed at 140°C.

Contact
Fraunhofer-Institut für Fertigungstechnik und Angewandte Materialforschung
Wiener Straße 12
28359 Bremen
Tel.: +49 421 2246-0
Fax: +49 421 2246-300
www.ifam.fraunhofer.de

Author
Dr.-Ing. Harald Sambale
sambale@kunststoffe.de

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China Green Material Technologies, Inc. Announces Record Full Year 2009 Results

Revenues Increase 21.8% to $13.4 Million and Operating Income Rises 19.9% to $5.3 Million
PRNewswire, April 13, 2010

HARBIN, China - China Green Material Technologies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CAGM; "CAGM" or "the Company"), a Chinese leader in developing and manufacturing starch-based biodegradable containers, tableware and packaging materials, today announced its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2009.

Full year revenues increased 21.8% to $13,407,287 for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $11,008,513 in 2008, primarily driven by the Company's successful efforts in marketing its biodegradable products. Gross profit was $6,354,433 in 2009 versus $5,327,929 a year ago, while gross margin came in at 47.4% in 2009 and 48.4% for the full year in 2008.

Operating expenses were $1,030,861 in 2009 as compared to $888,232 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, an increase of 16.1%, which reflected a credit in 2008 of $261,887 to reduce the level of allowance for doubtful accounts. Income from operations in 2009 rose 19.9% to $5,323,572 as compared to $4,439,697 in 2008, reflecting the strength of full year revenues.

The Company reported income before taxes of $4,894,136 in 2009 as compared to $4,385,907 in 2008, an 11.6% increase. Full year net income was $4,134,946 in 2009 versus $5,892,352 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. The decline is primarily due to a gain of $1,506,545 related to foreign currency translation in 2008. Net income excluding foreign currency translation was $4,155,326 in 2009 as compared to $4,385,807 in 2008, a decrease of 5.3%. The year-over-year decline is primarily due to the exemption from Chinese income tax in 2008. Basic and diluted net income per share was $0.22 for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared with $0.28 for the year ended December 31, 2008. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $7,321,276.

Mr. Su Zhonghao, CEO of CAGM, commented, "We are very pleased with the record results of 2009, which reflect increasing demand for our products as consumers continue to adopt environmentally-friendly, sustainable practices. Importantly, the increase of 22% in revenues is attributable to strong order flow from both new and existing customers. During the year, we took a number of important steps to position the Company for future growth. We expanded our distributor base by nearly 70% to 118 partners and increased our sales team to 38 members. Early in 2010, we made the strategic decision to significantly expand our production capacity to accommodate increasing volume and prepare for anticipated growth as we focus on developing new product categories, entering new markets and winning new customers."

Mr. Su Zhonhao continued. "Looking ahead, we believe the Company is ideally positioned to take advantage of favorable macro environmental policies and increasing awareness and demand for biodegradable products. We believe that we have an early mover advantage; proprietary technology that produces superior quality products; an experienced and cohesive team; a strong order pipeline; key operating and growth strategies designed to increase market share; and the financial flexibility to execute."

About China Green Material Technologies, Inc.

Website: http://www.21cgmt.com

China Green Material Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: CAGM) is a China-based manufacturer of starch-based biodegradable containers, tableware and packaging products. Headquartered in Harbin city of China, the Company currently has 153 employees. The Company has developed proprietary biodegradable food packaging materials technologies.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains certain statements that may include "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "optimistic," "intend," "will" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of risks and factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with and available from the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risks and other factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

For more information, please contact:

American Capital Ventures
Howard Gostfrand
Tel: +1-305-918-7000
Email: info@amcapventures.com
Web: http://www.amcapventures.com

HC International, Inc.
Christine Greany
Tel: +1-858-523-1732
Email: christine.greany@hcinternational.net
Web: http://www.hcinternational.net

SOURCE China Green Material Technologies, Inc.

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Biodegradable 3D glasses coming to theaters?

by Sharon Vaknin, Crave - CNET, April 12, 2010

Though some moviegoers' powerful identification with "Avatar" may have inspired them to ponder the planet and rethink their carbon footprint, they likely missed the irony: millions of nonbiodegradable, plastic 3D glasses were reportedly distributed for the movie.

Luckily, cinemas may be on their way to adopting a more sustainable technology. Cereplast, an L.A.-based maker of bioplastics, has partnered with Oculus3D to create what appear to be the first biodegradable 3D glasses. Unlike current 3D glasses that are made using petroleum-based plastic, these will be manufactured with plastic derived from plant materials.

Cereplast and Oculus3D say they'll be ready to distribute their glasses this summer, according to Greenwala, where we first spotted the news. With the rising cost of oil and a high interest in 3D movies, biodegradable 3D glasses could be just the right move for the movie industry.

RealD--the predominant developer of technology for 3D glasses, and one of four providers of 3D systems for showing "Avatar"--implemented a recycling program for its plastic glasses last fall. Moviegoers are given the option to toss their glasses into a bin after the movie or keep them for reuse.

Glasses that end up in the bin are taken to a sanitizing facility, repackaged, and returned to theaters for redistribution. Intact glasses can be washed up to 500 times, but any that are cracked, scratched, or damaged are likely sent to landfills. RealD told CNET it could not comment on its recycling program because the company is in a quiet period.

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Inside Design: The Man Behind PoopBags

By PD&D Editorial Staff, Product Design & Development, April 12, 2010

Farewell to the plastic grocery bag, pet owners no longer have to take such a toll on landfills. Though it is a way to repurpose the many plastic bags compiled after multiple shopping excursions, typical petroleum-based plastic bags can take thousands of years to decompose.

Paul Cannella, the owner of Chicago-based PoopBags.com, created a solution.

Cannella’s PoopBags are 100 percent biodegradable dog waste bags that meet the ASTM D6400 specification — with all of the “earth friendly” products on the market D6400 actually allows a company to legally claim that the product is biodegradable.

Made from corn starch and other renewable resources, PoopBags are shelf stable products that will degrade, after use, at the same rate as the core of an apple.

In PD&D’s latest addition to the Inside Design series, Cannella discusses how you don’t always have to change your behavior to save the environment, sometimes you just the bags you were using.

PD&D: How was the PoopBag born?

Paul Cannella: I used to always run out of bags for my dog, May. I started grabbing extras when I could: my Mom would save them for me, I always asked for double-bagging, etc. I started looking for sources on the web and discovered just how bad plastic bags were for the environment.

In 2003, there were very few resources for biodegradable bags — and it remains true today. While many claim to be biodegradable, only a couple actually meet the ASTM D6400 specification, which allows you to legally claim your product is biodegradable.

PD&D: Where are the bags manufactured?

Cannella: We have two product lines: One is made in the U.S., and the other is made in Norway.

PD&D: Dog owners understand the volume of plastic grocery bags that are “recycled” every year. How much harm are they doing to the environment?

Cannella: Here are some facts:

* Plastics are the fourth highest generated waste in the U.S.
* Plastic grocery bags originate from petroleum, which is non-renewable.
* The bags don’t biodegrade, and they take thousands of years to break down.

I also caution you from using the word ‘recycle’ when using the old bags to pick up dog waste, you're really reusing them. Picking up is still very important to protect our waterways and environment, now adjust to using a 100 percent biodegradable dog waste bag and you'll be doing your part.

PD&D: How have you organized your business to run with as little of a carbon footprint as possible?

Cannella: Our boxes are made from 100 percent recycled materials and constructed using 100 percent wind power. We use as many recycled and natural products as we can for shipping and we try to leverage our reach to spread eco-friendly tips to the masses. We recycle all of our cardboard, paper, plastics (yes, we still drink beverages) and anything else we can. In general, everyone that works at PoopBags has a Green streak.

PD&D: If I order green bags over the internet, how do the emissions used to deliver the bags compare to my footprint if I continue to use plastic grocery bags?

Cannella: That’s an interesting question. We try to offer the bags in bulk to reduce the number of deliveries. In the end, there is no comparison. Those are plastic and they're just plain bad for the environment.

PD&D: How do you plan to orchestrate mass market PoopBag acceptance?

Cannella: We have a constant program of advertising, PR, social networking and relying on our number one asset, our customers and their praise for PoopBags. Word of mouth is the most powerful form of acceptance and we are grateful for a tremendously loyal customer base.

PD&D: What does the future hold for PoopBags?

Cannella: We have a very bright future and it’s very exciting. While we currently sell overseas in a limited capacity, we are preparing to open an office in the United Kingdom. That will be followed by reach to the entire European Union; and then we'll focus on the Pacific Rim. This is balanced with our continued growth here in the States. Along the way, we hope to continue to do some good by making donations to shelters, paying for pet adoptions and donating to the Algalita Marine Research Foundation.

PD&D: Given the current state of the environment, what keeps you up at night?

Cannella: I certainly get stressed, but I usually don’t have any issues sleeping at night. I try to do my best to lead a good life, be responsible and rest easy, knowing that my company provides a Green-N-Easy source for folks to make their own small impact on the world.

For more information on PoopBags, check out the www.poopbags.com.

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Don't get left holding the wrong leaf bag

If you're a Twin Cities resident living anywhere except Minneapolis, you now must use biodegradable, compostable lawn bags. The once-ubiquitous black plastic bags have been banned for yard waste.
By JOHN EWOLDT, StarTribune.com, April 12, 2010

"Why haven't I heard of this change before?" asked a Hennepin County resident when she called Hennepin County Environmental Services about the switch to compostable bags. John Jaimez, the county's organics recycling specialist, said the change was mentioned frequently last year in newspaper, radio and TV stories as well as online. "I don't have a TV or computer or read the newspaper," she said.

For anyone else sitting on the sidelines, here's the deal. As of Jan. 1, most residents of the seven-county metro area (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties) who bag their yard waste for pickup must use compostable paper or plastic-like bags made from organic material, often corn-based. Only Minneapolis residents are getting a pass on the new requirement -- until Jan. 1, 2013.

Metro procrastinators who bagged leaves after the last pickup in the fall will have to rebag the waste or find other options. Waste haulers are giving no slack to anyone putting out the black plastic bags. Most haulers, such as Allied Waste, are tagging the black bags with a neon-colored note which states that they will no longer be picked up, said Jessica Kliche, marketing coordinator at Allied.

Earlier-than-expected warm weather caught some retailers off guard. The compostable bags have been in short supply at some stores.

In a check of 10 retailers two weeks ago, Sam's Club and Wal-Mart in Bloomington were out of stock. Target, Menards, Home Depot, Costco and several smaller hardware stores had the paper or plastic-like bags in stock.

You might need help finding compostable bags if you're shopping for the first time. Many stores have the paper bags in one location and the plastic-like bags in another. Target, for example, has the traditional black lawn and leaf bags with all other plastic bags but the compostable ones in the seasonal department.

For a partial list of retailers selling the plastic-like bags, go to www.bpiworld.org/minnesota. More than 30 manufacturers make the translucent, compostable bags, said Steve Mojo, executive director of the Biodegradable Products Institute in New York City.

Finding the right bags

How can consumers know they're buying the correct ones?

The new bags are translucent, usually white, green or pink. But don't be misled by packaging or wording.

Several stores were selling bags labeled "100 percent degradable" or "60 percent recycled plastic" in green boxes labeled "Go Green" or "Good Sense." Open the box, however, and the bags contain black or opaque green plastic that is not compostable.

Plastic bags labeled as being biodegradable but not compostable break down into finer plastic particles, but the plastic does not disintegrate into organic matter. Look instead for wording on the box that says "compostable" or "Meets ASTM D6400 standards."

Drawbacks to new bags

Anyone accustomed to bags made of thick, black plastic with drawstrings or flap closures will find the new bags a little, well, basic.

None of the brands I checked had the drawstring or flap closure or even twist ties. At a size of 30 to 33 gallons, they're also smaller than traditional bags, which are usually 39 to 45 gallons.

Sturdiness is a factor, too. The paper versions offer consistent quality, but the plastic-like bags have varying strengths due to the thickness of the material. Some of the boxes weren't labeled for thickness, which is measured in mils (1 to 1.1 thickness is standard). The Bag to Nature brand at Target was the strongest in our tests.

The new bags have some drawbacks. They are designed to disintegrate more quickly, so filling them with damp material and leaving them in the rain isn't a good idea. Decomposition time will depend on condition and the brand.

Finding a good price

They cost more, too. The old plastic 39- to 45-gallon leaf bags cost 17 to 40 cents each. The 30-gallon Kraft paper bags cost as much as 80 cents each. Home Depot and Menards were cheaper at 38 cents each ($1.88 for five). The lowest price I found was at Costco for 32 cents each ($7.99 for 25).

Among the stores where I found compostable, plastic-like bags, each sold a different brand. Prices ranged from 60 to 83 cents per 33-gallon bag. Menards had the lowest price on its BioBag ($5.99 for 10), but Target's Bag to Nature bags were sturdier ($7.96 for 10). If you're bagging sticks and branches, go for sturdier, thicker bags or use two-ply paper.

Minneapolis gets extra time

Why is Minneapolis off the hook until 2013? The city is considering a program for residents to discard yard and food waste in carts. But it needs extra time to get the carts into place and find an organic recycler that is licensed to accept and handle the waste from 105,000 households, said city spokesman Casper Hill. Currently, there is no such recycler, he said.

Despite all the confusion, Denise Westman of Tonka Bay said she's glad to be helping the environment.

"I think it's a great idea, but I am wondering how the bags will do in the rain," she said.

As for her stash of black plastic bags, Westman plans to use them to haul compost or use them as garbage bags.

"One way or another, they'll still get used," she said.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com. If you spot a deal, share it at www.startribune.com/blogs/dealspotter.

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City Begins Leaf Collection

Steven Goode, courant.com, April 12, 2010

The city has begun its spring curbside leaf collection service. The service, which will end April 23, requires biodegradable trash bags.

Residents are asked to place bags of leaves at the curb as they would their trash and recyclables for their weekly assigned waste collection day.

Leaves should be placed at the curb no earlier than 4 p.m. on the day before collection and no later than 7 a.m. on the day of collection.

Leaves may not be placed in trash containers and must be collected separately for recycling. Residents may drop off bagged leaves at the public works yard, 40 Jennings Road.

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Bag bans gain momentum

EarthTalk, smdp.com, April 12, 2010

Dear EarthTalk, How effective have plastic bag bans and restrictions been on reducing plastic litter and other problems associated with their proliferation? And is it really better to use paper bags, which will just lead to more deforestation?

Peter Lindsey, New Canaan, Conn.

Plastic bags, first introduced in the 1950s as a convenient way to store food, have since developed into a global scourge, littering roadsides, clogging sewer drains and landfills and getting ingested by animals and marine life. And in recent years we've discovered how they are so prolific that they now comprise a significant portion of the plastic and other garbage that has collected in huge ocean gyres far from land.

A few countries around the world — Bangladesh, China, India, Australia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Israel, South Africa, Taiwan and Mumbai, among others — have taken stands against plastic bags through taxing their usage or banning them outright. The environmental think tank, Worldwatch Institute, reports that China's decision to ban free plastic bags in 2008 has cut demand by some 40 billion bags, reduced plastic bag usage there by 66 percent, and saved some 1.6 million tons of petroleum.

In March 2007, San Francisco became the first (and is still the only) major U.S. city to implement an across-the-board ban on plastic bags. Large supermarkets and pharmacies there had to ditch plastic shopping bags by early 2008 in favor of paper bags or those made from all-natural biodegradable cornstarch-based plastic. Environmentalists are particularly fond of the latter option for those who don't bring their own grocery bags, as these cornstarch bags offer the biodegradability of paper without the deforestation as well as the convenience of plastic without the damage to ecosystems. San Francisco officials had originally tried to work with retailers on reducing plastic bag use voluntarily. But after a few years of little or no cooperation, they decided to just institute the ban on anything but biodegradable bags. The result has been a 50 percent drop in plastic bag litter on the streets since the ban took effect.

Los Angeles followed suit and its city council voted in 2008 to ban plastic bags beginning in July 2010 — but the ban will only take effect if the state of California doesn't follow through on a statewide plan to impose a fee on shoppers who request plastic bags. City council members in L.A. hope the ban will spur consumers to carry their own reusable bags and thus reduce the amount of plastic washing into the city's storm drains and into the Pacific Ocean. Several other U.S. cities, including New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, have considered outright bans like San Francisco's, but each settled instead on plastic bag recycling programs in the face of pressure from the plastics industry and retail commercial interests.

While increased demand for paper bags in the wake of plastic bag bans could lead to more deforestation, most paper grocery bags in use today are made from recycled content, not virgin wood. Also, an added benefit of paper over petroleum-based plastic is its biodegradability.

Americans go through some 92 billion disposable plastic bags each year, and only five billion paper ones. If the nation banned plastic bags it is likely that paper varieties would only make up a small part of the difference, in light of the proliferation of reusable canvas shopping bags as well as the availability of biodegradable cornstarch plastic.

Want to get down to earth? Submit questions to earthtalk@emagazine.com.

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Metabolix to ship first biodegradable plastic, Mirel

By Jackie Noblett, Mass High Tech, April 9, 2010

For nearly two decades, Oliver Peoples and the Cambridge-based company he founded, Metabolix Inc., have been working on ways to turn crops into biodegradable plastics.

The company, founded in 1992 and public since 2006, bore the brunt of the long, slow and expensive process of industrial biotechnology and clean-technology commercialization. But this month, Metabolix (Nasdaq: MBLX) finally will turn the corner so many of its peer companies have failed to do and begin shipping its first plastic, known as Mirel, from its commercial plant in Clinton, Iowa, to customers and book revenue.

Traversing the chasm between technology and production is supremely difficult in the cleantech field, and for Metabolix it has meant years of losses and the dependence on joint venture agreements with agricultural giants to finance much of its expansion. Executives say the transition to producer from developer is critical for the company to prove to investors and customers the technology is more than a science project.

“The commercialization of Mirel is a huge step for us, for it provides a huge point of credibility that other industrial biotechs are looking for,” said Metabolix President and Chief Executive Richard Eno. “We have now transitioned into an environment that creates a lot more opportunities for us to build on the foundation of Mirel and into other products we’re working on.”

Driving the interest is projections of a sizable market for the materials to be used in anything from plastic bags to yogurt cups. Sales of biodegradable and bio-based plastics could reach $1.7 billion to $2.4 billion by 2012, according to a report by investment bank Jefferies & Co.

Metabolix’s history is not drastically different from other biotechs in the ethanol, chemical and materials industries — using major advances in genetic engineering made in the 1970s and 1980s and combining it with chemistry and materials science. But what makes Metabolix unique is not that it is making biodegradable plastics, but trying to create a single polymer that can withstand heat and cold, can be injection-molded into pens and can be in contact with food.

“What we’re making is a new polymer that has never been made before,” Eno said. “When you’re putting a new material out there, there are various tests and other processes that take time.”

“I think the benefit is once you’re there, it’s an enduring thing,” he added.

That’s if you actually get to the end goal. Metabolix’s ability to go commercial arguably would not have been possible without a joint venture forged in 2006 with Decatur, Ill.-based Archer Daniels Midland Co., one of the world’s largest producers of corn-based ethanol.

ADM essentially fronted the cost of building Metabolix’s Clinton plant to the tune of well over $300 million as well as access to the corn sugar feedstock that is used to make Mirel. In return, Metabolix provides research and development as well as marketing and product development services to the venture.

Eno says the partnership enabled Metabolix to get over the hurdle of fronting the money for a plant, something the early-stage company could not do on its own.

Last year, the 100-employee company generated $1.6 million in revenue from grant funding and payments from ADM, posted a net loss of $38 million. Meanwhile, the company’s stock has surged since February, trading near $13 per share from a 52-week low of about $6.

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Biodegradable plastic use on rise in Costa Rica

sify news, April 9, 2010

Uses of biodegradable plastic bags in Costa Rica has increased significantly in the last three years as a result of an intensified climate conservation campaign across the country and in Central America.

Consumers are now purchasing disposable and environment friendly plastic containers, bags and bottles. Such products are gaining ground in less than three years after the technology came in the market, said Silvia Vega, CEO of Milenio Tres, distributor of D2W technology used to convert plastics into degradable material.

Although biodegradable products make up less than 10 percent of all plastics on the market in the Central American country, the trend is towards continued rapid growth, she said.

The increased use of 'green' products in Costa Rica is part of a worldwide trend; among other Central American countries that have embraced oxo-biodegradable plastics are El Salvador and Guatemala.

According to Milenio Tres, close to 220 million tonnes of plastic is produced annually worldwide and approximately 20 million tonnes of plastic debris end up in rivers and oceans.

The company also estimates that 90 percent of the plastic made since 1930 remains somewhere on the planet as rubbish without decomposing, polluting earth, air and water.

International environmental watchdogs say nearly one million seabirds die annually from ingesting plastic, while turtles in oceans all over the world mistake floating plastic bags and sheets for jellyfish and choke to death.

In Costa Rica, roughly 4,500 tonnes of urban solid waste is produced every day. Of them, approximately 30 percent ends up in rivers and oceans.

Oxo-biodegradable plastic is anywhere from between five percent and 10 percent more expensive to manufacture, Vega said, but there are ways to bring that cost down.

'In reality, this cost is nothing compared to the environmental benefit of having waste that will decompose instead of accumulating on the planet for decades,' Vega said.

D2W technology is used in more than 90 countries and has been approved in accordance with international guidelines, including those of the US Food and Drug Administration.

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Biodegradable bags ordinance takes effect

KTRK-TV, April 5, 2010

HOUSTON - Starting today, the city of Houston will require residents to switch to biodegradable bags or eventually pay a fine.

City residents will now have to put their yard trimmings in green friendly bags with the city's seal. The new bags will cost you about three times more than the old bags.

And under the new ordinance, residents can face a fine of up to $2,000 if they're not put in city-approved bags.

But officials say it will not fine anyone for the first few weeks.

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Biodegradable Lawn & Yard Waste Bags are available online from Carolina Green FoodService Supply.

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City Requires Biodegradable Yard Waste Bags

Bags Cost 80 Cents Each
KETV.com, April 5, 2010

click here to watch news video

HOUSTON - People in Houston must use biodegradable bags to dispose of yard waste or face a hefty fine, KPRC-TV in Houston reported.

The city's new ordinance goes into effect Monday.

The City Council hopes the biodegradable bags will save the city about $1.5 million annually and preserve the environment and landfill space.

The city-approved bags are available at grocery and hardware stores around the city. They cost about 80 cents each.

Some residents are very upset about the added cost, as a regular trash bag can cost about 25 cents each.

"We have received dozens and dozens of e-mails and phone calls," Councilman Mike Sullivan said. "Not one of them has complimented the city for this program."

Residents who put their yard waste in any other type of bag will face a fine of up to $2,000.

There are alternatives for residents who do not want to use the bags.

"You can use a mulching mower and grasscycle," said Marina Joseph, with the city's solid waste department. "That is very good for the environment."

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Biodegradable Lawn & Yard Waste Bags are available online from Carolina Green FoodService Supply.

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New law: They don't take plastic

Starting this Thursday, N.C. is outlawing plastic bottles in landfills. But recycling rangers likely won't bust you.
By Lynn Bonner, charlotteobserver.com, Sept. 28, 2009

Public service announcements, fliers, and corporate-gift cards are all aimed at getting N.C. households to comply with a state law kicking in Thursday that bans plastic bottles from landfills.

But don't look for the trash cops if soda bottles end up in your garbage cans.

"That's not the spirit of the law," said Scott Mouw, the state's recycling director. "Clearly, this is more of a law of spirit or intent, everyone recognizing the positive reasons to recycle."

State enforcement efforts will be targeted at haulers who show up at landfills with loads of banned material. Most local governments don't have the power or the interest in dogging residents who don't recycle.

Charlotte's Solid Waste Services department does not conduct enforcement, spokeswoman Brandi Williams said. "It's a state law, so it is on them to enforce it," Williams said.

Charlotte offers a volunteer recycling program in which households place certain items in red bins and workers collect them weekly. Workers who pick up recycling sort the plastic, metal and paper at the curb.

Starting next July in Charlotte, recycling will be collected every other week, instead of weekly. The city is trading the red recycling bins for larger rolling containers similar to its trash cans. Workers will dump everything into trucks, and the plastic-metal-paper sorting will be at an automated facility.

The move is part of a plan to save about $26 million over 10 years.

Without enforcement efforts, though, North Carolina's embrace of recycling has been more of a half-hug.

North Carolina missed a 10-year recycling goal it set back in 1991 for reducing trash disposal. In fact, more trash went to landfills, not less. Garbage disposal went from 1.01 tons per person in 1992 to 1.21 tons per person by June 2001.

The state now has a new goal: Recycle 2 million tons of bottles, cans, and other materials each year by 2012. N.C. residents currently recycle about 1.3 million tons a year.

The state recycles fewer than one in five bottles, Mouw said, and he's sure that rate can go up.

One of the state's new tactics to persuade people to keep plastic out of the trash is to focus on the empty bottles as a raw material for the state recycling industry. The state has plants that are a step in the manufacturing chain that turns used bottles into new bottles and other materials. The largest plastics recycling plant in the nation is to open in Fayetteville next year.

Though state law bars specific materials from landfills - such as aluminum cans, big appliances and tires - recycling practices vary across the state and are largely governed by local ordinance.

Some communities, such as Orange County and Cary, constantly add items to their list of recyclables, while other localities make a more limited effort.

Orange County, which includes Hillsborough and Chapel Hill, recycled more plastic per person than any other county last year, according to state figures. Orange residents recycled about 29.5 pounds of plastic bottles per person in 2007-08.

Pamlico County was the next closest with 14.8 pounds per person. The state average was 3.8 pounds per person.

"People across the county have a really high recycling ethic," said Blair Pollock, Orange County's solid waste planner.

Four counties didn't collect plastic for recycling. Some of the state's municipalities - Kannapolis being the largest - don't have curbside recycling, Mouw said.

Katie Burdett, who wrote about plastics recycling as a requirement for her master's in public administration from UNC Chapel Hill this year, said the state would need to require recycling and develop an enforcement strategy to maximize the ban's impact.

Local communities' recycling success largely depends on the commitment of those in charge of running it, said Burdett, who interned in the state recycling office. Communities that do best have someone whose sole job it is to encourage recycling, keep in touch with major garbage producers and watch the recycling markets, she said.

Charlotte Observer staff writer Fred Clasen-Kelly contributed.

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Biodegradable plastics' 'green' association propels their growth, claims report

The green factor is triggering the growth of biodegradable plastics, particularly in the areas of consumer products and packaging, Frost & Sullivan reports.
By Anne Marie Mohan, GreenerPackage.com, Jan. 4, 2010

As biodegradable plastics fall under the "green" category, they exhibit high potential for growth compared to other thriving environment-friendly technologies in the renewable energy and chemicals segments. That’s the conclusion of new analysis from Frost & Sullivan, “Biodegradable Plastics—A Strategic Assessment of Technology Status and Application Prospects.”

The report indicates that opportunities are proliferating in key application areas such as packaging/plastic bags, agriculture, consumer goods, electronics, automotive, and healthcare. Growth in this sector occurs due to factors such as climate change, favorable governmental measures, and green procurement policies practiced by governments and corporate entities. Stringent environmental regulations are driving the development of bio-based products and are triggering the growth of the biodegradable plastics industry.

In the analysis, Frost & Sullivan finds that consumer products and packaging have emerged as the application sectors having the highest potential for biodegradable plastics. Analysis revealed that film packaging and rigid packaging scored the best in terms of level of attractiveness and possibility of success.

"Traditional packaging materials contain a range of oil-based polymers, which are largely nonbiodegradable," notes technical insights research analyst W.F. Kee. "Packaging waste forms a significant part of municipal solid waste and has caused increasing environmental concerns, resulting in strengthening of legislation in order to reduce packaging waste."

The report notes that with the ramping up of the attraction quotient in recent years, green products are clearly gaining advocates. “It has become increasingly fashionable for the public to support green products,” Frost & Sullivan says. “The popularity of hybrid cars and reusable bags is a good example. Eco-friendly products have been introduced in various sectors, including food, appliances, and cars. ”

Consumer interest in bio-based packaging is on the rise, the analysis relates. Public support for green products is partially responsible for the biodegradable plastics market growth, and this global trend is expected to continue, gathering steam in the future.

Challenges to growth

Although the overall prospects look bright, some issues have been reining in market progress, the report notes. Cost competitiveness is foremost among the challenges confronting the market. To circumvent this obstacle, proposed solutions include the use of cheaper feedstock, for instance, biomass-based feedstock, as well as an integrated process. Utilization of feedstock is very limited right now, Frost & Sullivan says, and the adoption of biomass-based feedstock will mostly be influenced by the development of improved biocatalysts.

Other concerns associated with biodegradable plastics are poor processability characteristics, low barrier properties toward air, water, and oxygen, low resistance to heat, and in some cases, low shelf life, the report states.

"The properties of traditional biodegradable polymers do not offer the essential mechanical properties and fail to match up to the needs of end-user application compared with conventional plastics," says Kee. "This acts as a barrier for the penetration of biodegradable packaging in high-end applications."

The report concludes that it is imperative that these impediments be addressed before biodegradable products can compete on an equal footing with conventional plastics.

Suggestions to improve properties include deploying enhanced blending technologies or developing composites. Blending studies are underway in the academic and corporate sectors, and efforts have been initiated for the development of bio- and nanocomposites, Frost & Sullivan says. The former incorporates bio-based materials such as natural fibers to improve the mechanical properties of biodegradable plastics, while the latter incorporates nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes to produce materials that are stronger and more durable.

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Biodegradable Particles Can Bypass Mucus, Release Drugs Over Time

ScienceDaily, Jan. 4, 2010

Johns Hopkins University researchers have created biodegradable nanosized particles that can easily slip through the body's sticky and viscous mucus secretions to deliver a sustained-release medication cargo.

The researchers say these nanoparticles, which degrade over time into harmless components, could one day carry life-saving drugs to patients suffering from dozens of health conditions, including diseases of the eye, lung, gut or female reproductive tract.

The mucus-penetrating biodegradable nanoparticles were developed by an interdisciplinary team led by Justin Hanes, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering in the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins. The team's work was reported recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Hanes' collaborators included cystic fibrosis expert Pamela Zeitlin, a professor of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and director of pediatric pulmonary medicine at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

These nanoparticles, Zeitlin said, could be an ideal means of delivering drugs to people with cystic fibrosis, a disease that kills children and adults by altering the mucus barriers in the lung and gut.

"Cystic fibrosis mucus is notoriously thick and sticky and represents a huge barrier to aerosolized drug delivery," she said. "In our study, the nanoparticles were engineered to travel through cystic fibrosis mucus at a much greater velocity than ever before, thereby improving drug delivery. This work is critically important to moving forward with the next generation of small molecule and gene-based therapies."

Beyond their potential applications for cystic fibrosis patients, the nanoparticles also could be used to help treat disorders such as lung and cervical cancer, and inflammation of the sinuses, eyes, lungs and gastrointestinal tract, said Benjamin C. Tang, lead author of the recent journal article and a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

"Chemotherapy is typically given to the whole body and has many undesired side effects," he said. "If drugs are encapsulated in these nanoparticles and inhaled directly into the lungs of lung cancer patients, drugs may reach lung tumors more effectively, and improved outcomes may be achieved, especially for patients diagnosed with early stage non-small cell lung cancer."

In the lungs, eyes, gastrointestinal tract and other areas, the human body produces layers of mucus to protect sensitive tissue. But an undesirable side effect is that these mucus barriers can also keep helpful medications away.

In proof-of-concept experiments, previous research teams led by Hanes earlier demonstrated that latex particles coated with polyethylene glycol could slip past mucus coatings. But latex particles are not a practical material for delivering medication to human patients because they are not broken down by the body. In the new study, the researchers described how they took an important step forward in making new particles that biodegrade into harmless components while delivering their drug payload over time.

"The major advance here is that we were able make biodegradable nanoparticles that can rapidly penetrate thick and sticky mucus secretions, and that these particles can transport a wide range of therapeutic molecules, from small molecules such as chemotherapeutics and steroids to macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids," Hanes said. "Previously, we could not get these kinds of sustained-release treatments through the body's sticky mucus layers effectively."

The new biodegradable particles comprise two parts made of molecules routinely used in existing medications. An inner core, composed largely of polysebacic acid (PSA), traps therapeutic agents inside. A particularly dense outer coating of polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules, which are linked to PSA, allows a particle to move through mucus nearly as easily as if it were moving through water and also permits the drug to remain in contact with affected tissues for an extended period of time.

In Hanes' previous studies with mucus-penetrating particles, latex particles could be effectively coated with PEG but could not release drugs or biodegrade. Unlike latex, however, PSA can degrade into naturally occurring molecules that are broken down and flushed away by the body through the kidney, for example. As the particles break down, the drugs loaded inside are released.

This property of PSA enables the sustained release of drugs, said Samuel Lai, assistant research professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, while designing them for mucus penetration allows them to more readily reach inaccessible tissues.

Jie Fu, an assistant research professor, also from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, said, "As it degrades, the PSA comes off along with the drug over a controlled amount of time that can reach days to weeks."

Polyethylene glycol acts as a shield to protect the particles from interacting with proteins in mucus that would cause them to be cleared before releasing their contents. In a related research report, the group showed that the particles can efficiently encapsulate several chemotherapeutics, and that a single dose of drug-loaded particles was able to limit tumor growth in a mouse model of lung cancer for up to 20 days.

Hanes, Zeitlin, Lai and Fu are all affiliated with Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology. Other authors on the paper are Ying-Ying Wang, Jung Soo Suk, and Ming Yang, doctoral students in the Johns Hopkins Department of Biomedical Engineering; Michael P. Boyle, an associate professor in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; and Michelle Dawson, an assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

This work was supported in part by funding from the National Institutes of Health, a National Center for Research Resources Clinical and Translational Science Award, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the National Science Foundation and a Croucher Foundation Fellowship.

The technology described in the journal article is protected by patents managed by the Johns Hopkins Technology Transfer office and is licensed exclusively by Kala Pharmaceuticals. Justin Hanes is a paid consultant to Kala Pharmaceuticals, a startup company in which he holds equity, and is currently a member of its board. The terms of these arrangements are being managed by The Johns Hopkins University in accordance with its conflict-of-interest policies.

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Drive to promote biodegradable alternatives

Express News Service, express buzz, Jan. 4, 2010

CUTTACK, India - If everything moves in the right direction, Cuttack could well become the first polythene-free city of the State. For, the civic authorities have charted out elaborate plans to phase out common use of the hazardous material.

While it is set for a crackdown on production, import and sale of polythene of less than 20 microns in strength in the city, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has resolved to launch a drive to educate people on using biodegradable alternatives.

The denizens would be sensitised on using textile, jute and paper bags instead of polythene carry bags. Shops, business establishments, hotels and restaurants have already been directed not to provide their goods in the banned polythene material to the customers, Commissioner RN Nanda said.

At the same time, a coordinated effort would be made to boost availability of the alternatives like paper and jute bags. The Corporation authorities along with the District Collector would hold a meeting of agencies concerned like the district industries centre and its wings to promote manufacturing paper bags and other biodegradable packaging material.

The move would serve two purposes: helping enormously in eliminating harmful polythene and providing employment opportunities.

Polythene is the single most contributing factor to the problems of water-logging in the millennium city. The Orissa High Court is also monitoring the enforcement of ban on recycled polythene in the city.

The deluge of 2007 and even the heavy showers last year had revealed the disastrous consequences of indiscriminate dumping of polythene and plastic materials in the drains and water discharge channels. While the city witnessed widespread inundation last year, fishing out of at least five tractor loads of plastic, polythene and polymer discards at the outage point of the Main Storm Water Channel near Matru Bhawan eased out the situation within hours.

A concerted campaign would be launched to make people conscious and debar them from dumping the hazardous materials into the drains, Nanda said.

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New restrictions on plastic bags coming in Minn.

Associated Press, WQOW TV, Dec. 28, 2009

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Most residents of the Twin Cities metro area will soon face new state requirements on plastic yard bags, even though raking is months away.

A new state law taking effect on Friday requires metro-area residents - except those who live in Minneapolis - to use certified compostable bags for yard waste.

The requirement is waived for those who immediately empty their yard waste bags at a compost facility or transfer station. Minneapolis is exempt until 2013 while the city phases in a new compost system.

Another law going into effect Friday prohibits labeling plastic bags as "biodegradable" or "compostable" unless the bags meet standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. Businesses that violate the labeling law could face fines of up to $5,000.

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Houston delays requirement for biodegradable yard waste bags

Rule now set to go into effect Feb. 1
By MATTHEW TRESAUGUE, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Dec. 28, 2009

City officials predict that the change will result in the diversion of 60,000 tons of organic material from local landfills at an annual savings of $2 million in fees, or 10 percent of the city's yearly budget for waste disposal

Houston waste officials have decided to delay the start of a program requiring the use of biodegradable and compostable bags for leaves and yard trimmings because of a supply problem.

The program will go into effect Feb. 1, instead of Jan. 1, to allow more time for the bags to reach store shelves, said Marina Joseph, a spokeswoman for the city's Solid Waste Department.

The newly mandated bags can be found at Walmart and Kroger stores and will soon be at other retailers, such as CVS, Ace Hardware and Do It Best Hardware, she said.

“They are out there, but it's not as widespread as we would like it to be,” Joseph said Monday of the bags. “We don't want to start the program without them being widely available.”

The city is making the change to the biodegradable bags because plastic bags, made from petroleum, can linger for centuries in landfills. The compostable bags begin to decompose within six weeks.

City officials predict that the change will result in the diversion of 60,000 tons of organic material from local landfills at an annual savings of $2 million in fees, or 10 percent of the city's yearly budget for waste disposal.

The compostable bags, however, are more expensive. A box of 10 city-required bags, each holding up to 39 gallons, costs $6 to $8, while a box of 70 similar-size plastic bags sells for about $16.

Resources

Bio bags

Effective Feb. 1, the city will only pick up leaves, grass trimmings and other yard waste that is left out in biodegradable or compostable bags. Some details:

What: The new bags feel like plastic, but are made of starch and start decomposing in six weeks.

Why: The city hopes to conserve landfill space, cut waste and reduce use of petroleum-based plastic bags that take centuries to decompose.

How much: A box of 10, 39-gallon bags will sell for $6-$8 at several grocery retailers — up to 80 cents a bag, compared with under 25 cents for comparable plastic bags.

Where they are: The following Walmart locations say they have the new bags in stock. Officials say other retailers, such as CVS, Ace Hardware, Do It Best Hardware and possible Kroger, should have them in stock soon:
26270 Northwest Freeway, Cypress 22605 Tomball Pkwy., Tomball 9235 North Sam Houston Pkwy., Humble 5655 East Sam Houston Pkwy., Houston 9598 Rowlett Road, Houston 9460 West Sam Houston Pkwy. South, Houston 12353 FM 1960 West, Houston 2700 South Kirkwood Drive, Houston 9555 South Post Oak Road, Houston 13484 Northwest Freeway, Houston 2727 Dunvale Road, Houston 10411 North Freeway, Houston 155 Louetta Crossing, Spring 3506 Texas 6, Houston 27650 Tomball Pkwy., Tomball

More information: www.houstonsolidwaste.org.

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