Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where can I buy StalkMarket products?

A: StalkMarket does not sell direct to the consumer. StalkMarket products are sold at grocery stores, office supply stores and various other retailers nationwide. They are also available at www.amazon.com and www.branchhome.com. For information on your nearest retailer, click here. Restaurants, food service providers or retailers can purchase products from our distributors. For information on your local distributor, click here.

Q: What makes StalkMarket products compostable?

A: StalkMarket products are made from Bagasse, the natural cellouse fibers that remain after sugarcane has been processed to remove all the liquid "juice" from the sugarcane stalk. Traditionally these fibers were either burned for making steam at the sugar mill or thrown away. Sugarcane is biologically a tropical grass, and hence the fibers are natural cellulose, which are very similar to the fibers from trees, bamboo, hemp and other fibrous plants in nature. Natural fibers such as these will biodegrade in the presence of heat, moisture, oxygen and microorganisms that feed on the fibers as part of their normal diets. There are no synthetic fibers used in Stalkmarket products. StalkMarket's Jaya and Planet Plus products use polylactic acid (PLA) and other biopolymers, that are also made of sustainable plant materials and industrially compostable.

Q: Can StalkMarket provide privately labeled product?

A: Absolutely. Several grocery store chains already carry private labeled StalkMarket products. In addition, food service providers may order branded food packaging. For more information on private labeling options click here.

Q: What is the best way to dispose of StalkMarket products?

A: All refuse should be disposed of properly. StalkMarket products can be disposed of or recycled depending on how they were used and their condition after use. When there is food residue on the plate, container etc. disposal of our products into the wet garbage stream is preferred. Many municipalities direct their wet garbage (food waste) into composting operations. The best way to dispose of StalkMarket products at home is to use a home composter. StalkMarket plates can even be torn up and buried in a garden where they will break down and become part of the soil. StalkMarket's biopolymer products will also break down in a home composter, but the process will take noticeably longer than other StalkMarket products. If the products are relatively free of food residues, grease etc., it is perfectly acceptable to recycle them with other papers such as office paper, newspaper etc.

Q: What about paper plates and paper cups? Aren't they also biodegradable?

A: Most paper products that have had a poly- or petro-based film or emulsion applied to them will not degrade at the same rate as an untreated product such as StalkMarket's. As an example, common ripple edge paper plates use a film- or petro-based emulsion for water and grease repellency, which is applied to the core paper stock of the item. Most disposable coffee cups are also treated with a plastic coating that helps them contain liquids. These coatings act as barriers to very elements needed for proper biodegradability and compostability, making lifespan of such products much longer. StalkMarket's Jaya and Planet Plus products use Ingeo™ from NatureWorks® biopolymers, which are also made of sustainable plant materials and industrially compostable.

Q:  What is bagasse?

A:  Bagasse is the biomass remaining after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juice.  Bagasse is used as a tree-free alternative for making paper.  The process requires no bleaching and has less impact on the environment than making paper from trees.  Bagasse paper, along with papyrus and parchment (made from animal skin) was one of the earliest types of writing surfaces and is still popular today with artists and calligraphers.

Q: What does biodegradable mean?

A: The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) defines biodegradable as "capable of undergoing decomposition into carbon dioxide, methane, water, inorganic compounds, or biomass, in which the predominant mechanism is the enzymatic action of micro-organisms." To put this into layman's terms, biodegradable or biodegradation is the process by which organic substances are broken down by other living organisms. Essentially, the biological consumption by microorganisms of the organics in the waste being broken down. All StalkMarket products are 100% biodegradable and will break down in a landfill, home composter or commercial composter.

Q: What is compost?

A: Compost is the aerobically decomposed remnants of organic materials when biodegradation is completed. StalkMarket brand products are all home compostable in a compost bin, garden heap or simply buried in the flowerbed. StalkMarket products break down in normal soil and climatic conditions with no special handling. The only exceptions to this in the Stalkmarket product line are the Jaya flatware and clear cups, which we recommend be disposed of via commercial composting methods. Once the commercial composting process is completed, compost is used in gardening and commercially by the agriculture, landscaping and container nursery industries. It is also used for erosion control, land and stream reclamation, wetland construction and as a landfill cover.

Q: How long will it take StalkMarket products to break down?

A: There are several variables that can influence how long it takes for our products to decompose when composted. Heat and moisture are two of the most significant. On average, the StalkMarket sugar cane fiber products break down in 6 or 7 weeks. Our biopolymer products normally break down in 12 to 18 weeks. Tearing or breaking the products before placing them in the composter will speed the process.

Q: What happens if StalkMarket products wind up in a landfill? Will they still biodegrade?

A: Many municipalities are now sorting garbage after it is collected and several do employ commercial composters for the "wet waste stream." Our products break down extremely quickly in commercial composters. Even if our products end up in a landfill, they will still break down provided air and moisture are present, though the process may take significantly longer and greatly depends on how the landfill operates.

Of course, StalkMarket recommends that businesses and consumers take an active role in managing their own waste in an Earth-friendly way. The process of commercial composting and home composting has come a long way in the past few decades and effective composting units are readily available. Furthermore, it is important for businesses and consumers to hold local governments accountable to how waste is handled in your area and help be an agent of change in areas where poor practices are still in place. Everyone needs to be a part of the solution.

Q: How long does it take for various items to decompose in a landfill?

A: The following is a list of sample times for biodegradability in an anaerobic waste facility:(Source is the UK Department of the Environment)

• Cotton rags, 1-5 months
• Paper, 2-5 months
• Rope (natural fiber) 3-14 months
• Orange peels 6 months
• Wool socks, 1-5 years
• Cigarette filters, 3-12 years
• Milk cartons, 5 years
• Leather shoes, 25-40 years
• Nylon fabric, 30-40 years
• Plastic bags, 10-20 years
• Plastic 6-pack holder rings, 450 years
• Styrofoam cup, 100 years
• Banana peels, 2-10 days