Disposal: Synthetic vs Organic

Due to the huge volume of daily waste that human beings generate, we have been programmed to opt for biodegradable products. In theory, that seems like the best option, but there are certain factors that may influence your decision. Synthetic vs organic waste is the question.

Are polypropylene sorbents biodegradable? No, they are not, nor are many of the fluids that they absorb. Polypropylene is a man-made fiber that is derived from oil and natural gas. Regardless of man-made vs organic, it is important to understand that "biodegradable" does not always compute.

In regard to degradable organic waste, oxygen is required for microbes to efficiently decompose said waste, so to landfill and expect total decomposition in any sort of timely manner is pure fantasy. Additionally, absorbed fluids must be extracted prior to disposal. Otherwise, your sorbent will eventually decompose, yet the waste fluid may remain. Environmentally responsible disposal practices include the following extraction methods: wringing, centrifuging, and washing.

There are various methods for disposal of solid waste, including landfill, incineration, and recycling/reuse. Consult with your local, state, and federal authorities, and consult with licensed/reputable waste disposal companies for specific options. Granted, the best answer is that we should stop spilling fluids all over the place, but we are human beings.

Regardless of whether you choose synthetic or organic/natural sorbents, limiting waste is the best policy. Products that absorb at the highest rate (dry versus saturated weight) yield lesser solid waste at the time of disposal. Along those lines, lower density absorbent pads or rolls limit waste. The reason is that many people discard sorbents before they are fully saturated, so less is best. Medium-weight Fiberweb oil-only sorbents have a dry-vs-saturated absorption rate of 22.5 times. To put that into perspective, 9 lbs of solid sorbent becomes 202.7 lbs when fully saturated.