San Francisco
Compostable Cups, Plates, Bowls, & Utensils
Instructions
Make sure that the bags are labeled "compostable." If labeled "biodegradable", unfortunately, put them in the landfill.
Alternatives
Use reusable cups, plates, and utensils instead. When you do buy single-use items, look for 100% recycled content, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified or paper or wooden options.
Facts
In general, compostable waste products have a lifetime of a year before they breakdown and are picked out of commercial composters because they look like plastics. Unfortunately, even compostable cups (made of plastic-looking material, not paper) are not actually composted because of they are removed before spending enough time in the composter. "Biodegradable" waste products have a one year or longer breakdown requirement and are intended for deposit in landfill, where they do not add to the toxicity of the site.
