AS 4736:2006 pdf – Biodegradable plastcs – Biodegradable plastics suitable for composting and other microbial treatment.
AS 4736 specifics requirements and procedurcs to detcrminc the compostahility, or anaerobic biodegradation, of plastics by addressing biodegradability, disintegration during biological treatment, effect on the biological trealnient process and effect on the quality of the resulting compost.
This Standard prosides a basis to allow labeling of materials or products made from plastics as compostable. for use in such facilities as municipal or industrial conipostcrs.
This Standard applies to the processing of plastics in controlled ssaste treatment plants.
2 REFERENCED DOCTIMENTS
The follosing documents are referred to in this Standard:
AS 4454 Composts. soil conditioners and mulches
AS ISO 14852 Plastic materials—Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability in an aqueous medium—Method h analysis of csolscd carbon dioxide
14855 Plastic materials—Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodcgradahi lit> and disintegration under controlled composting conditions— Method by analysis of cols’ed carbon dioxide
ISO 10634 Water quality— Guidance for the preparation and treatment of poorly water- soluble organic compounds for the subsequent csaluat ion of their biodegradability in an aqueous medium
14851 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium—Method by measuring the oxygen demand in a closed respiromeler
14853 Plastics— Determination of the ultimate anaerobic biodegration of plastic materials in an aqueous system—Method by measurement of biogas production
16929 Plastics—Determination of the degree of disintegration of plastic materiak under defined composting conditions in a pilot-scale test
ASTM E 1676 Standard guide for conducting laboratory soil toxicity or bioaccumulation tests sith the Lumbricid Earthsorm Escniaj.qiIa and the Enchytraeid Pots orm E,tchsiraeus uIhidu.s
For the purposes of this Standard, the following definitions apply:
3.1 BIodegradability
The ability of organic substances to be broken down by micro-organisms in the presence of oygcn (acrohic)to carbon dioxide, water. hiomass and mineral salts or any other elements that are present (mineralization). Alternatisely. the breakdown of’ organic substances by micro-organisms without the presence of oxygen (anaerobic) to carbon dioxide, methane. water and biomass.
3.2 Composting
The aerobic and thermophilic degradation of organic flatter to make compost
3.3 Disintegration
Tile physical falling apart into very’ small fragments of plastic material.
3.4 Plastic
A material that contains large molecular weight organic polymeric suhstanccs as an essential ingredient.
3.5 Suitable reference aubstance
A micro-crystalline cellulose powder.
3.6 Total dry solids
The amount of solids obtained by drying material at 105—110 dcgrccs Celsius to a constant weight.
3,7 Volatile solids
The amount of solids obtained by subtracting the residues of a material after incineration at 550—580 degrees Celsius from the total dry solids content. The volatile solids content is an indication of the amount or organic matter in the material.
3.8 Component
A part of a plastic product that can be separated by hand or by using simple physical means.
3.9 Constituent
Tile chemical materials and substances of which a plastic is composed.
4.1 Equialent form
A plastic demonstrated to be ‘compostable’ in a particular form, shall be accepted as being compostable in any other form having the same or a smaller mass-to-surface ratio or wall thickness.