Biodegradable Film > Definitions and Terms > End-of-Life Environments

End-of-Life Environments

Regresa® is a registered trademark of Brentwood Plastics, Inc. and refers to our films which include a catalyst to hasten the degradation of polyethylene to a few years instead of the approximate 300 year half life.

  

END-OF-LIFE ENVIRONMENTS

TERM1	MEANING
Aerobic digestion	Degradation in the presence of air. Composting is a form of aerobic degradation.
Anaerobic digestion	Degradation in the absence of air, as occurs in landfills or in purpose built anaerobic digesters. Anaerobic degradation may also be referred to as biomethanation.
Compost	A mixture of various decaying organic substances, such as dead leaves or manure, used for fertilizing soil.
Compost – commercial	Compost produced in an industrial scale compost plant, a feature of which is the controlled and sustained elevation of temperature.
Compost – home	Compost produced in a small scale home composting system which is usually less managed than a commercial facility and thus tends not to achieve sustained elevated temperatures.
Flushable	Suitable for disposal in the sewage system by flushing down the toilet.
Freshwater	Water that is not salty.
Landfill: dry-tomb	A landfill that is constructed to restrict contact betweeen waste and air and water.
Landfill: other	Method of solid waste disposal, including wet cell landfills, where refuse is burned.
Litter	Scatter rubbish, not properly disposed of in landfill, recycling, composting or other formal rubbish disposal methods.
Marine water	Salt water that comes from the sea.
Mulch	Any pasteurized organic product such as a covering of straw or compost (excluding polymers which do not degrade such as plastics, rubber and coatings) that is suitable for placing on soil surfaces.
Open air environment	Any environment that is open to the surrounding atmosphere.
Plastics recycling	The recovery of scrap or waste plastics and reprocessing into useful product.
Plastic to fuels	The conversion of plastics to fuel sources such as diesel.
Septic tank	A tank in which solid organic sewage is decomposed and purified by anaerobic bacteria.
Sewage sludge	Sludge with active, live degradation microorganisms.
Soil	The portion of the earth’s surface consisting of disintegrated rock and humus.
Wastewater	Water that has been used in washing, flushing, manufacturing, etc. sewage

1 “Using Degradable Plastics in Australia - A Product Stewardship Guide and Commitment”