Part 3/9:
Biodegradable materials can face hurdles in proper disposal settings. For example, in a landfill filled with toxic materials, the microbial environment is significantly restricted, slowing down the breakdown process. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has established guidelines that require a product labeled as biodegradable to decompose completely and return to nature within a reasonable timeframe, which they defined as one year post disposal. However, the challenge lies in consumer behavior—products that end up in the wrong waste stream, like landfills, may never have the opportunity to biodegrade properly.