Electronic Parts/Guidelines - infoHouse

formance. and inhibit future recycling efforts. Degradable-type polymers which are recovered for recy-
cling and commingled with similar untreated resin may cause the resultant mixture to perform
unexpectedly or fall prematurely. Biodegradable materials that are incinerated simply represent a
misuse of financial resources as no benefit Is derived from the extra-cost additive.
4.10.2 Photodegradable Packaging
Photodegradable materials use the sun's ultraviolet rays to assist degradation. Carbonyol ingredients
are typically added to a material to introduce this property, Like biodegradibility. however,
photodegradability reduces the size of the inert particle, but increases the number of particles by dis-
solving the binding agent between the polymer chains.
Photodegradability is a more specialized approach to solid waster reduction which has several serious
drawbacks. First, the necessary additives increase resin or material cost. Second, legislators, man-
ufacturers and users have not reached consensus on the level of sunlight exposure required to initiate
the degradation process. Photodegradable packagings which degrade too rapidly prevent containers
from performing their intended purpose as packages fail prematurely before reaching their ultimate
destination. Conversely, the packagings which degrade too slowly cause those who want to see it
disappear great dissatisfaction. Photodegradabiiity is dependant not only upon the time materials are
exposed to the sun, but also upon the intensity of the sun at a specific geographic region. This causes
potential legislation to vary by region and complicate material development..
photodegradable materials must be used in conjunction with the proper disposal methodology to be a
logical choice for waste minimization. Since the two most common methods of disposal, landfill and
incineration, neverlseldom encounter a sufficient quantity of daylight for the photodegradable mech-
anisms to operate, usefulness of this technology is severely limited.
4.10.3 Compostability
Another Increasingly popular means of handling select solid waste materials is composting
Composting converts certain natural material types into a usable secondary product that may be used
to enhance agricultural efforts. Biodegradation and photodegradation may be used in tandem on
natural products to produce a reduced volume and weight of waste material which may be used as a
soil supplement to reutilize its positive constituents.
Composting technology is not new, but is being enhanced to expedite the degradation process. Unfor-
tunately, the results of composing are hinged to the slowest decaying ingredients. Composting may be
applied to only naturally degradable materials and there are still some concerns about undesirable
residues within the compost that may have a detrimental effect upon soil or harvest, and thus, on
mankind.
4.10.4 Conclusions
Degradable additives provide benefit which is limited to the societal problem of ''litter.'' These addi-
tives are of little value to industrial packaging materials and normally serve to .increase material cost.
Most packaging materials are better candidates for reuse or recycling waste minimization practices,
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