In Tuesday's article, we discussed reusable water bottles. But Biota Spring Water offers another answer. The Colorado company developed biodegradable bottles made from

corn instead of petroleum. The question is--

are bioplastic products really better for the environment?

Well, maybe. The bottles degrade in approximately 75 to 80 days, but require "commercial composting conditions" to do so. This generally means a steady temperature of 140 degrees, which is difficult to achieve in a home compost pile, according to the Natural Lawn and Garden Hotline.

Unfortunately, the bottles can't go in your yard waste bin, either, since King County collectors do not currently accept plastics other than biobags. Throwing bottles away is no solution, because landfill conditions halt decomposition. And corn-based (#7) plastics are problematic for conventional recycling facilities, says Tom Watson, waste prevention specialist for King County Solid Waste Division.

But the real problems begin on the farm--Growing corn requires oil to fuel tractors and create fertilizer. And an increased demand for the crop may cause more land clearing, which could itself hasten global warming.

Watson hopes that bioplastics will someday be a better solution. "But the ultimate solution would be for people to use reusable bottles instead of buying single-use bottles," he says. 

Bottom line: A better plastic ain't that much better.

Here at A Fresh Squeeze we were surprised to learn that corn-based cups aren't accepted by King County for composting. So we're switching to compostable paper for our events.