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2. Goal - To develop additive systems that will permit common, cost effective, inherently non-biodegradable plastics to biodegrade in a landfill to useful products without loss of resistance to heat or weather in ordinary service. To biodegrade only in a landfill.

3. Landfill Environment Dark, 30-40ºC, limited oxygen, bad conditions for usual degradation paths. Variable moisture content. At 35-45% moisture, many plastics can be induced to biodegrade. At very low levels (15-20%) found in poorly managed landfills, not even food waste will biodegrade.

4. Oxidative Degradation (not in a landfill) In damp loose soil inherently biodegradable plastics such as PLA, polyvinyl alcohol or polyacrylic acid, or Polyolefin/starch compositions or modified with Ferric or Manganese stearate will degrade. Outdoor service life and water resistance are extremely limited

5. ASTM D 5526 Landfill 90% Processed sterile sewage waste of 35-65% water content 10% actively fermenting compost This method simulates landfills in which the gas generated is recovered. In well managed landfills, there is periodic addition of water and sewage waste.

6. What’s suitable food? Water is vital Sources of carbon and nitrogen Necessary trace elements Absence of active biocides – Zinc, cadmium and mercury and lead compounds

8. Standard Plastisol Sheet

9. Biodegradable Plastisol with BIOchem ® Additives

10. What is readily consumed in the landfill? (at least, under some conditions) Process oil, low wax, plasticizers from natural products (Not phthalates), stearic acid, cellulose, if the moisture content is high. (If not, paper may persist indefinitely.)

11. Decomposition of Cellulose Requires High Moisture

12. Landfill Degradation Develops Useful Fuel in Biogas

13. Is PVC immortal in the landfill? 2003 report that after 32 years in a landfill, plasticized PVC sheet showed only minor holes where fungi had consumed plasticizer or other additives. 1994 report that addition of 8% starch resulted in microbes eating only the starch

14. Landfill Decomposition of Vinyl Plastics Additives leading to landfill biodegradation of PVC and related materials under anaerobic conditions are described in US Patent 7,390,841, now also WO 2008/140552. Organotitanates and zirconates of certain specific structure enable microbes to attack weak points in the large molecules of the plastic.

15. Typical results, ASTM D 5526 (IF moisture level is optimum) Filter paper – gone in 60 days at high H2O PLA, Starch - 30 days at high moisture 2 mil PVC film – no change 180 days With 2% additive – consumed in 60 days 5 mil film “ “ - 90-120 days, brittle in 60 days

16. PVC Landfill Decomposition at 35 ° C

17. Landfill Decomposition with Additive (BIOflex) Optimum landfill moisture is 35-45%, very slow at 60% and almost zero at 97%, as in sewage treatment facilities. In ordinary service, heat resistance and outdoor weatherability equals that of the highest quality PVC compositions.

21. Aloe doing well, 50% compost containing PVC

23. BIOflex® 100 mil sample after 6 months – Microbes eating PVC BIOflex®

29. Dr. Richard Grossman receives the Pinnacle Award from PDMA

31. Below is a piece of Bioflex® plastisol, 100 mils thick, that had been cast on release paper and oven fused. After 3 months in the landfill it shows considerable microbial attack. It may take a year or more to vanish.