ASTM_D_6002_-_96_2002e1.pdf

Designation:D 6002 96(Reapproved 2002)e1Standard Guide forAssessing the Compostability of EnvironmentallyDegradable Plastics1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6002;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.e1NOTEAdded Note 1 and Summary of Changes section in March 2002.1.Scope*1.1 This guide covers suggested criteria,procedures,and ageneral approach to establish the compostability of environ-mentally degradable plastics.1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.NOTE1There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:D 638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics2D 882 Test Methods for Tensile Properties of Thin PlasticSheeting2D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics2D 3593 Test Method for Molecular Weight Averages/Distribution of Certain Polymers by Liquid Size-ExclusionChromatography(Gel Permeation Chromatography(GPC)Using Universal Calibration3D 5152 Practice for Water Extraction of Residual Solidsfrom Degraded Plastics for Toxicity Testing4D 5209 Test Method for Determining the Aerobic Biodeg-radation of Plastic Materials in the Presence of MunicipalSewer Sludge5D 5247 Test Method for Determining the Aerobic Biode-gradability of Degradable Plastics by Specific Microorgan-isms6D 5338 Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegrada-tion of Plastic Materials Under Controlled CompostingConditions6D 5509 Practice for Exposing Plastics to a Simulated Com-post Environment6D 5512 Practice for Exposing Plastics to a Simulated Com-post Environment Using an Externally Heated Reactor6D 5951 Practice for Preparing Residual Solids ObtainedAfter Biodegradability Standard Methods for Plastics inSolid Waste for Toxicity and Compost Quality Testing6D 5988 Test Method for Determining the Aerobic Biodeg-radation in Soil of Plastic Materials or Residual PlasticMaterials after Composting6E 1440 Guide for an Acute Toxicity Test with the RotiferBrachionus7E 1720 Test Method for Determining Ready,Ultimate,Bio-degradability of Organic Chemicals in a Sealed Vessel CO2Production Test7G 22 Practice for Determining Resistance of Plastics toBacteria82.2ORCA Document:Guidelines for the Evaluation of Feedstock for SourceSeparated Biowaste Composting and Biogasification92.3OECD Guidelines:10OECD Guideline 207 Earthworm,Acute Toxicity TestsOECD Guideline 208 Terrestrial Plants,Growth Test3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 biodegradable plastica degradable plastic in whichthe degradation results from the action of naturally occurringmicroorganisms such as bacteria,fungi,and algae.D 8833.1.2 compostablecapable of undergoing biological de-composition in a compost site as part of an available program,such that the material is not visually distinguishable and breaksdown into carbon dioxide,water,inorganic compounds,andbiomass,at a rate consistent with known compostable materi-als.1This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics andis the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmentally DegradablePlastics.Current edition approved August 10,1996.Published October 1996.2Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 08.01.3DiscontinuedSee 1992 Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 08.03.4Discontinued;see 1998 Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 08.03.5Discontinued;see 1992 Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 08.03.6Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 08.03.7Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 11.05.8Discontinued;see 2001 Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 14.04.9Available from Organic Reclamation and Composting Association,Avenue E.Mounier 83,Box 1,B-1200 Brussels,Belgium.10Available from Organization for Economic Development,Director of Infor-mation,2 rue Andre Pascal,75775 Paris Cedex 16,France.1*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959,United States.3.1.3 compostinga managed process that controls thebiological decomposition and transformation of biodegradablematerial into a humus-like substance called compost;theaerobic mesophilic and thermophilic degradation of organicmatter to make compost;the transformation of biologicallydecomposable material through a controlled process of bio-oxidation that proceeds through mesophilic and thermophilicphases and results in the production of carbon dioxide,water,minerals,and stabilized organic matter(compost or humus).Composting uses a natural process to stabilize mixed decom-posable organic material recovered from municipal solidwaste