Leeming Pilkington promote their green credentials

Leeming Pilkington promote their green credentials by introducing compostable food packaging and catering disposables in to their sites. Chris Pilkington said "Going even further we feel we need to change the way in which we dispose of organic waste. We believe now is the time to start saving money by diverting waste from landfill, and going green with organics recycling Our clients can trust us to supply them with the most sustainable packaging in the market, We can follow our strictest clients environmental criteria to the point where we can offer all products that are made exclusively from annually renewable or recycled materials, and that are compostable."

Compostable = like biodegradable, but quick!

There's a big difference - know your terminology! 'Biodegradable' means that a material will break down naturally over time, which could be as long as hundreds of years. A wooden house is biodegradable but can stand for generations. 'Compostable' however means that a product will biodegrade quickly - quick enough to be included in industrial organics recycling process which usually takes 6-12 weeks. "

So what does happen to waste which is put into landfill? Well, the answer is (pretty much) nothing.

In fact, landfill sites are designed in such a way as stop things breaking down, to prevent pollutants entering the environment. Landfills are typically sited where the ground is naturally impermeable and then lined with plastic or clay to prevent leachate (potentially toxic landfill 'juice') seeping into groundwater.

Once full, landfills are sealed with a further layer of clay or soil, creating a relatively oxygen-free, dry environment. These are almost exactly the opposite of the conditions required for composting. If any organic matter breaks down without oxygen, it can release methane, which can be a harmful greenhouse gas if not captured and used.