AS ISO 16929—2008

AS ISO 16929—2008

Australian Standard®
This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Plastics—Determination of the degree of

disintegration of plastic materials under
defined composting conditions in a
pilot-scale test (ISO 16929:2002, MOD)
 This Australian Standard® was prepared by Committee EV-017, Degradability of Plastics. It
was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 21 December 2007.
This Standard was published on 19 February 2008.

The following are represented on Committee EV-017:

• Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

• Australian Conservation Foundation
• Australian Retailers Association
• Department of the Environment and Heritage (Federal)
• Keep Australia Beautiful National Association
• NSW Advisory Council on Recreational Fishing
•
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National Association of Testing Authorities Australia

• Packaging Council of Australia
• Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association
• Queensland University of Technology
• Swinburne University of Technology
• Waste Management Association of Australia

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 06283.

Standards Australia wishes to acknowledge the participation of the expert individuals that
contributed to the development of this Standard through their representation on the
Committee and through the public comment period.

Keeping Standards up-to-date

Australian Standards® are living documents that reflect progress in science, technology and
systems. To maintain their currency, all Standards are periodically reviewed, and new editions
are published. Between editions, amendments may be issued.

Standards may also be withdrawn. It is important that readers assure themselves they are
using a current Standard, which should include any amendments that may have been
published since the Standard was published.

Detailed information about Australian Standards, drafts, amendments and new projects can
be found by visiting www.standards.org.au

Standards Australia welcomes suggestions for improvements, and encourages readers to

notify us immediately of any apparent inaccuracies or ambiguities. Contact us via email at
mail@standards.org.au, or write to Standards Australia, GPO Box 476, Sydney, NSW 2001.
 AS ISO 16929—2008

Australian Standard®
This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Plastics—Determination of the degree of

disintegration of plastic materials under
defined composting conditions in a
pilot-scale test (ISO 16929:2002, MOD)

First published as AS ISO 16929—2008.

COPYRIGHT
© Standards Australia
All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written
permission of the publisher.
Published by Standards Australia GPO Box 476, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia
ISBN 0 7337 8550 6
 ii
ii

PREFACE

This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee EV-017, Degradability of
Plastics.
This Standard is an adoption with national modifications, and has been reproduced from ISO
16929:2002, Plastics—Determination of the degree of disintegration of plastic materials under
defined composting conditions in a pilot-scale test.
The source text has been modified as follows to prevent undesirable acceleration or retardation
of the test result and suit local conditions in Australia
The objective of this Standard is to be used to determine the degree of disintegration of plastic
materials in a pilot-scale composting test under defined conditions.
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As this Standard is reproduced from an international standard, the following applies:

(a) Its number appears on the cover and title page while the international standard number
appears only on the cover.
(b) In the source text ‘this International Standard’ should read ‘this Australian Standard’.
(c) A full point substitutes for a comma when referring to a decimal marker.
(d) Delete the text of Clause 6.1.1.1 and replace with ‘See Appendix ZA for requirements on
the recipe for compost.’
(e) A new Appendix ZA has been added at the end of the source text for application in
Australia.
References to International Standards should be replaced by references to Australian or
Australian/New Zealand Standards, as follows:
Reference to International Standard Australian Standard
ISO AS ISO
14852 Determination of the ultimate aerobic 14852 Determination of the ultimate aerobic
biodegradability of plastic material biodegradability of plastic material
in an aqueous medium—Method by in an aqueous medium—Method by
analysis of evolved carbon dioxide analysis of evolved carbon dioxide
14855 Determination of the ultimate aerobic 14855 Determination of the ultimate aerobic
biodegradability and disintegration biodegradability and disintegration
of plastic materials under controlled of plastic materials under controlled
composting conditions—Method by composting conditions—Method by
analysis of evolved carbon dioxide analysis of evolved carbon dioxide
Only international references that have been adopted as Australian Standards have been listed.
 ISO 16929:2002(E)

iii
iii

CONTENTS
Contents Page
Page

1 Scope ............................................................................................................................................................... 1
2 Normative references ....................................................................................................................................... 1
3 Terms and definitions ........................................................................................................................................ 2
4 Principle ............................................................................................................................................................ 3
5 Apparatus ......................................................................................................................................................... 3
6 Test procedure .................................................................................................................................................. 4
7 Calculation ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
8 Validity of the test ............................................................................................................................................. 8
9 Test report ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
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Bibliography........................................................................................................................................................... 10

© ISO 2002 – All rights reserved iii

 ISO 16929:2002(E)

iv
iv

INTRODUCTION
Introduction
The biological treatment of biodegradable plastic materials includes aerobic composting in well operated, municipal
or industrial biological waste treatment facilities. Determining the degree of disintegration of plastic materials in a
pilot-scale plant is an important step within a test scheme to evaluate the compostability of such materials.
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© ISO 2002 – All rights reserved v

 1
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
1 ISO 16929:2002(E)

AUSTRALIAN STANDARD

Plastics—Determination
Plastics of theof
— Determination degree of disintegration
the degree of plastic of plastic
of disintegration
materials under
materials underdefined composting
defined conditions
composting in a pilot-scale
conditions test
in a pilot-scale test
(ISO 16929:2002, MOD)

WARNING — Compost may contain potentially pathogenic organisms. Therefore appropriate precautions
should be taken when handling it.

1 Scope
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This International Standard is used to determine the degree of disintegration of plastic materials in a pilot-scale
aerobic composting test under defined conditions. It forms part of an overall scheme for the evaluation of the
compostability of plastics as outlined in ISO 17088, Plastics — Evaluation of compostability — Test scheme for final
acceptance (currently under preparation). The test method laid down in this International Standard can also be used
to determine the influence of the test material on the composting process and the quality of the compost obtained. It
cannot be used to determine the aerobic biodegradability of a test material. Other methods are available for this (see
e.g. ISO 14851, ISO 14852 or ISO 14855).

2 Normative references

The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this International Standard. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these
publications do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this International Standard are encouraged to
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For
undated references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of ISO and IEC
maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.

ISO 3310-2, Test sieves — Technical requirements and testing — Part 2: Test sieves of perforated metal plate

ISO 5663, Water quality — Determination of Kjeldahl nitrogen — Method after mineralization with selenium

ISO 7150-1, Water quality — Determination of ammonium — Part 1: Manual spectrometric method

ISO 10304-2, Water quality — Determination of dissolved anions by liquid chromatography of ions — Part 2:
Determination of bromide, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, orthophosphate and sulfate in waste water

ISO 10390, Soil quality — Determination of pH

ISO 11465, Soil quality — Determination of dry matter and water content on a mass basis — Gravimetric method

ISO 14851, Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium —
Method by measuring the oxygen demand in a closed respirometer

ISO 14852, Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium —
Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide

ISO 14855, Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability and disintegration of plastic materials under
controlled composting conditions — Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide

www.standards.org.au © Standards Australia

© ISO 2002 – All rights reserved 1
 This is a free preview. Purchase the entire publication at the link below:

AS ISO 16929-2008, Plastics - Determination of the

degree of disintegration of plastic materials under
defined composting conditions in a pilot-scale test
This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

(ISO 16929:2002, MOD)

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