Updated: 29/04/2021 - 14:32 Share this article A new technique to make biodegradable plastic fully compostable has been discovered by scientists at the University of Berkeley, US. Biodegradable plastics are supposed to break down into water, carbon dioxide or in contact with other organic materials (fruits and vegetables) in the compost bin. But in reality, most of them take as long as regular plastic bags to disintegrate, or need to be brought to an industrial composting centre to be recycled under high temperatures - a not so green virtuous circle in the end. This new study claims to have developed a new plastic that can degrade by up to 98 per cent in household compost in just a few days, simply by adding heat and water.