It can be a very common misconception that if a wipe claims to be biodegradable it is also compostable. However, this is not always the case.
Only certain biodegradable wipes can be composted. A very important factor when considering if a wipe is able to be composted, is the necessary materials and conditions needed for the breakdown into mulch.
Composting is a very specific science, which relies on the optimal conditions to break down waste. Adding any items that do not meet these specific requirements, can cause major problems for your compost heap. Adding wipes that are not certified compostable can in turn completely destroy all organisms that are necessary within the composting process. It is therefore very important to confirm the wipes that you are popping in your compost bin really are compostable.
There are some companies that produce wipes that are compostable due to their 100% natural contents.
https://www.thecheekypanda.co.uk/product/100-bamboo-baby-wipes/
The Cheeky Panda wipes are a good example of a product that can be added to the compost based on it's 100% natural composition of materials that can break down in a compost heap.
What Can be composted
There are different materials that can be added to a compost heap and ensuring that the correct materials are in your compost heap is a vital step. The following is a list of materials that can be added to the compost heap:
- Grass cuttings
- Vegetable peelings
- Fruit waste
- Teabags
These above products will breakdown fast and provide the compost with needed moisture and nitrogen. You will also want to add other materials such as:
- Paper
- Leaves
- Cardboard
These will provide the perfect combination to create the perfect compost.
Are dude wipes really biodegradable?
DUDE wipes are currently not biodegradable or compostable. The company do produce other products such as their 'Flushable' wipes which claim to be 100% biodegradable however for these products to biodegrade they need the correct conditions. If they are added to the water system, they may not properly break down for over 10 years and this will still cause issues within the water system.
This therefor means there is no other option but to throw the DUDE wipes into the bin. The wipes will then end up in landfill where they won't properly decompose.
Are honest wipes biodegradable?
Honest wipes are NOT biodegradable, they are composed of polyester and rayon. Polyester and Rayon are both materials that do not completely decompose in a short period of time and are not found in nature.
Although they do state the wipes to be biodegradable, the small print describes the following:
'biodegrade & compost in municipal/industrial facilities.'
This means that unless you have access to industrial biodegrading facilities you will have to put the wipes in the bin which will lead to them not properly decomposing.
