Landfilling, biodegradable recyclable products

In order to decrease human consumption of petroleum, chemists have investigated methods for producing polymers from renewable resources such as biomass. Nature Works polylactic acid (PLA) is a polymer of naturally occurring lactic acid (LA), and LA can be produced from the fermentation of corn. The goal is to eventually manufacture this polymer from waste biomass. Another advantage of PLA is that, unlike most synthetic polymers which litter the landscape and pack landfills, it is biodegradable. PLA can also be easily recycled by conversion back into LA. It can replace many petroleum-based polymers in products such as carpets, bags, cups, and textile fibers. 

From a qualitative point of view, the more fermentable material which is sorted and recycled, the less production of biogas and leachate is to be expected in landfills, this is the reason why the Directive 9913IIEC on Landfills mandates phased diversion targets for biodegradable waste to be taken out of landfills. 

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