Here's what happens when 'compostable' products become litter

Single-use plastic items are a substantial contributor to litter across Canada, but compostable alternatives can follow a similar path, has found.

As various levels of government ban many single-use plastic items, compostable products are rising in popularity. But found these alternatives are not as great for the planet as their green packaging seems to suggest.

To simulate what would happen to compostable items if they ended up in our environment, buried items in the ground, in a backyard composter and submerged them in a lake.

After 14 weeks, only three out of 30 products completely broke down.

"It's single-use garbage," said Karen Wirsig, from the advocacy group Environmental Defence. "What companies are trying to do is continue to use the same convenient-for-them, single-use packag