I stumbled upon one of those ultramodern compost bins on someone's curb and was immediately impressed by its sleek design and construction. It seemed like a great find—until I got it home and realized it was shedding a fine white dust. Initially, I thought it was harmless, but after some research, I suspect the dust is actually microplastic particles caused by photodegradation from UV exposure!
One source says the bin is made from "recycled nylon." Unfortunately, this isn't comforting since nylon can break down into microplastics, whether it's recycled or not, leading to the contamination of ecosystems. So much for being "ECO"! “Death Star” may be a fitting name after all.
This particular bin isn’t being sold anymore, but I've noticed many other compost bins on the market are also made of plastic—which seems counterproductive. How can we enrich our soil if the bins themselves leach microplastics into it when exposed to sunlight?
This experience has made me reconsider all plastic outdoor furniture as well. Over time, these products could also break down and contaminate the soil. Am I alone in being deeply concerned about the environmental hazards posed by outdoor plastic products?
by veganboyscout
3 Comments
I love the design to bad about it. My old barrel composter is made of metal. I wonder if you could just paint the outside to prevent the uv exposure.
Would an epoxy coat fix your dust problem?
Its a awesome design
Paint it