Generic compostability guide

Compostability claim

Industrial compostable mark

An industrial-compostable mark means the item is intended to break down under specified controlled composting conditions, not in ordinary recycling or necessarily in a home compost heap.

Industrial compostableScheme- and certification-specific

Material or subjectMaterial certified or claimed for controlled industrial composting conditions

Applies inScheme- and certification-specific

What the mark identifiesComposting condition claim

Last source check15 August 2026

At a glance

What this symbol means

Industrial composting uses controlled temperature, moisture and processing conditions. Acceptance also depends on the local organics facility and collection rules.

Check the exact certification owner and local organics program. WasteSpot does not reproduce protected certification artwork.

Recognition

How to recognise it

Look for wording such as industrial compostable, commercially compostable or the relevant standard/certification reference.
Read any instruction that limits the claim to a specific facility or collection program.

Typical applications

Where it commonly appears

food-service packaging
compostable liners and bags
labels, tea bags and other certified applications

Practical decision

How to sort or dispose of it

Use an organics collection only when it accepts certified compostable packaging.
Keep the item out of conventional plastic recycling.
Use residual waste when no suitable composting route accepts it.

Before disposal or return

Remove non-compostable contents and components.
Use certified liners only where the program permits them.
Do not mix conventional plastic look-alikes into the organics stream.

Avoid contamination

Common mistakes

Putting industrial-compostable plastic in home compost.

Putting it in ordinary plastic recycling.

Assuming “biodegradable” is equivalent to certified compostable.

Important limitation

What it does not mean

It does not mean biodegradable in every environment, home compostable, litter-safe or accepted in every food-waste bin.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Can it go in my food-waste bin?

Only when the local program explicitly accepts that certified item.

Can it go in plastic recycling?

Generally no; it can contaminate conventional plastic streams.

What if no industrial composting route exists?

Use the local residual route unless the authority provides another instruction.

Verification

Sources

European Commission — Biobased, biodegradable and compostable plasticsOpen source ↗U.S. EPA — How to recycle common materialsOpen source ↗

Sources checked 15 August 2026