Constant Contact Survey Results
Survey Name: Final Version of Compostable Plastics Survey-Tier II
Response Status: Partial & Completed
Filter: None
8/15/2013 10:53 AM PDT
TextBlock:
Section I
The City of San Jose, CA and project partners Asheville, NC, and Gaithersburg, MD are working closely with the United States
Composting Council and a national industry task force to develop a toolkit to help government agencies determine how to best
manage compostable plastics. Your answers to this survey will help to identify the most valuable tools for municipalities to address
common challenges of using compostable plastics. Thank you for taking the time to complete our survey. We value your feedback.
* The term, "compostable plastic", is used in this survey to describe plastics that are manufactured and intended to degrade in a
compost facility without leaving visible, distinguishable or toxic residue.
How familiar are you with compostable plastic products?
Number of
Response(s)
72
Response
Ratio
47.0 %
55
35.9 %
Not that familiar
5
3.2 %
Not familiar at all
5
3.2 %
No Response(s)
16
10.4 %
153
100%
Answer
Very familiar
0%
100%
Somewhat familiar
Totals
How familiar do you think the residents in your community are with compostable plastic products?
Number of
Response(s)
1
Response
Ratio
<1 %
Somewhat familiar
32
20.9 %
Not that familiar
62
40.5 %
Not familiar at all
43
28.1 %
0
0.0 %
15
9.8 %
153
100%
Answer
Very familiar
0%
100%
Not sure
No Response(s)
Totals
Page 1
How familiar do you think the businesses in your community are with compostable plastic products?
Number of
Response(s)
2
Response
Ratio
1.3 %
Somewhat familiar
40
26.1 %
Not that familiar
67
43.7 %
Not familiar at all
27
17.6 %
0
0.0 %
17
11.1 %
153
100%
Answer
Very familiar
0%
100%
Not sure
No Response(s)
Totals
Does your jurisdiction currently have declared goals or programs to encourage the use of compostable
plastics in any of the following areas? Please check all that apply.
Number of
Response(s)
21
Response
Ratio
15.3 %
34
24.8 %
Residential food scrap
collection programs
Business useage and
collection programs
None
22
16.0 %
28
20.4 %
69
50.3 %
Not sure
18
13.1 %
Other
17
12.4 %
137
100%
Answer
Government/ institutional
facilities
Public events and venues
0%
100%
Totals
Page 2
Does your jurisdiction have future plans to develop programming to encourage the use of compostable
plastics in any of the following areas? Please check any that might apply.
Number of
Response(s)
25
Response
Ratio
18.6 %
25
18.6 %
28
20.8 %
27
20.1 %
No plans at this point
47
35.0 %
No, we discourage the use
of compostable plastics in
our programs
Not sure
21
15.6 %
22
16.4 %
Other
15
11.1 %
134
100%
Answer
Government/ Institutional
facilities
Residential collection
programs
Business useage and
collection programs
Public events and venues
0%
100%
Totals
Does your program require the use of certified compostable plastics that meet ASTM 6400, ASTM 6868 or
are certified by BPI?
Number of
Response(s)
37
Response
Ratio
24.1 %
No
38
24.8 %
Not sure
14
9.1 %
We do not specify any type
of certification for
compostable plastics
Other
32
20.9 %
13
8.4 %
No Response(s)
19
12.4 %
153
100%
Answer
Yes
0%
100%
Totals
Please choose the top three challenges that compostable plastics present to your municipality/jurisdiction?
Number of
Response(s)
63
Response
Ratio
46.6 %
Contamination of the
recycling stream
Confusing, misleading or
missing labeling
Ability to identify
compostable plastics at
sorting or compost facilities
Not allowed in compost for
certified organic use
Not sure
68
50.3 %
91
67.4 %
90
66.6 %
30
22.2 %
10
7.4 %
Other
21
15.5 %
135
100%
Answer
Contamination of compost
0%
100%
Totals
Page 3
Does your local compost facility accept compostable plastics?
Number of
Response(s)
54
Response
Ratio
35.2 %
No
39
25.4 %
Not sure
26
16.9 %
I do not have a local
compost facility
No Response(s)
16
10.4 %
18
11.7 %
153
100%
Answer
Yes
0%
100%
Totals
If your local compost facility does not accept compostable plastics, please explain why not.
59 Response(s)
Does your local hauler accept compostable plastics in any of the following collection services? Please
check all that apply.
Number of
Response(s)
37
Response
Ratio
27.6 %
Commercial
55
41.0 %
Events and venues
44
32.8 %
We have no collection
services for compostable
plastics
Not sure
52
38.8 %
11
8.2 %
Other
18
13.4 %
134
100%
Answer
Residential
0%
100%
Totals
If your local hauler accepts compostable plastics in collection services, what types are accepted? Please
chack all that apply.
Number of
Response(s)
65
Response
Ratio
84.4 %
Compostable food
serviceware (cups, lids and
other rigid containers)
Compostable cutlery and
utensils
Compostable film wrap
61
79.2 %
53
68.8 %
22
28.5 %
Other
13
16.8 %
77
100%
Answer
Compostable bags
0%
100%
Totals
Page 4
TextBlock:
Section II
The compostable plastics project team has received a grant to develop a toolkit that will compile resources for municipalities,
allowing them to support residents, businesses, and compost facilities in their areas with the purchase and management of
compostable plastics. Tools might include background information, sample program documents, training and other resources for
municipal staff.
Included below are some possible tools that might be created for a municipal tool kit to support sustainable
management of compostable plastics. How valuable would each tool be to your jurisdiction in
understanding and managing compostable plastics?
1 = Extremely Valuable, 2 = Moderately Valuable, 3 = Somewhat Valuable, 4 = Not Valuable
Answer
Sample purchasing policies
1
2
3
4
Number of
Response(s)
119
Rating
Score*
2.1
125
1.7
124
1.9
124
1.8
123
2.1
122
2.1
123
1.7
123
2.1
Lists of approved
compostable products from
municipalities and compost
facilities
Ideas and sample outreach
materials for residential
audiences
Ideas and sample outreach
materials for business
technical support
Sample certification labeling
for municipal adoption
Sample protocols to test
compostable plastics
disintegration at the compost
facility
Labeling and identification
guidelines
Current and emerging
research clearinghouse
*The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.
Page 5
If your municipality/jurisdiction has an existing program to support the collection of yard trimmings or food
scraps using compostable plastics, please mark any of the tools that you have developed for use in your
program
Number of
Response(s)
18
Response
Ratio
18.3 %
8
8.1 %
29
29.5 %
36
36.7 %
5
5.1 %
13
13.2 %
Labeling and Identification
guidelines
Research on the use and
function of compostable
plastics
None
18
18.3 %
15
15.3 %
39
39.7 %
Other
12
12.2 %
98
100%
Answer
Purchasing policies
0%
100%
Municipal certification
labeling for approved
compostable plastics
Outreach for residential
audiences
Outreach for business
technical support
Sample protocols to test
disintegration of
compostable plastics at the
compost facility
Municipal ordinances
Totals
TextBlock:
Section III
In order to best understand the interests of our respondents, we would like to know more about you and your municipality.
Page 6
Does your municipality/jurisdiction work with outside agencies, consultants or nonprofits to provide
technical assistance with compostable plastics for businesses, residents or public programs? If so,
please indicate the types of services these partners provide your jurisdiction. Check all that apply.
Number of
Response(s)
22
Response
Ratio
20.9 %
Collection program design
18
17.1 %
Educational programs and
outreach materials
Compost operations
27
25.7 %
18
17.1 %
We have not worked with
outside agencies for
compostable plastics
programming
We have chosen not to
include compostable plastics
in our programming
Other
47
44.7 %
27
25.7 %
11
10.4 %
105
100%
Answer
Policy development
0%
100%
Totals
How interested are you in receiving assistance from our national industy task force on the issue of
compostable plastics management?
Number of
Response(s)
37
Response
Ratio
24.1 %
Somewhat interested
33
21.5 %
Neutral
22
14.3 %
Not very interested
17
11.1 %
Not interested at all
1
<1 %
Not sure
8
5.2 %
35
22.8 %
153
100%
Answer
Very interested
0%
100%
No Response(s)
Totals
Page 7
In order to help you understand new information and resources about compostable plastics, in which
format do you prefer to receive information? Please select your top three choices.
Number of
Response(s)
64
Response
Ratio
55.6 %
39
33.9 %
Webinars
68
59.1 %
Conference Sessions
33
28.6 %
Training workshops
25
21.7 %
Videos
27
23.4 %
Graphics source files outreach examples
Contact with subject matter
experts
None
40
34.7 %
31
26.9 %
6
5.2 %
Totals
115
100%
100%
Number of
Response(s)
72
Response
Ratio
47.0 %
Private sector agency
7
4.5 %
Commercial composter
5
3.2 %
Consultant
6
3.9 %
Nonprofit agency
9
5.8 %
Plastics manufacturer or
distributor
Other
2
1.3 %
18
11.7 %
No Response(s)
34
22.2 %
153
100%
Answer
Background Information
documents
Powerpoint presentations
0%
100%
Please select the industry category that best describes your role:
Answer
0%
Local government employee
Totals
Please provide your City and State:
116 Response(s)
Page 8
The population of the municipality that you represent is:
Number of
Response(s)
26
Response
Ratio
16.9 %
50,000 to 100,000
23
15.0 %
100,000 to 500,000
46
30.0 %
500,000 to 1,000,000
12
7.8 %
Over 1,000,000
9
5.8 %
No Response(s)
37
24.1 %
153
100%
Answer
Under 50,000
0%
100%
Totals
Does your municipality have any of the following material management programs in place, or planned for
implementation in the next 2 years?
Answer
0%
Backyard composting
program
Food scraps collection
program for Businesses
Food scraps collection
program for Residents
Mandatory use of recyclable
or reusable packaging
Mandatory use of
compostable packaging
Mandatory composting for
Businesses
Mandatory composting for
Residents
None
100%
Other
Totals
Number of
Response(s)
76
Response
Ratio
64.4 %
77
65.2 %
57
48.3 %
21
17.7 %
12
10.1 %
14
11.8 %
12
10.1 %
21
17.7 %
13
11.0 %
118
100%
Thank you for your participation in this survey. Would you like to be notified when the compostable
plastics tool kit is available online, or receive more information about the sustainable use of compostable
plastics in your municipality?
Answer
Not at the moment
0%
100%
Yes (please provide an email
address below)
No Response(s)
Totals
Number of
Response(s)
28
Response
Ratio
18.3 %
86
56.2 %
39
25.4 %
153
100%
Page 9