How to Dispose of Your Vearthy Compostable Bubble Mailer

You’ve opened your order and now you’re holding a Vearthy mailer that looks like plastic but isn’t. It’s made from plant-based materials certified to AS 5810 - the Australian Standard for home compostability. That means it is designed to safely break down in a backyard compost. Here’s how to handle it the right way so it actually returns to soil.

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Step 1 - Empty the mailer and remove non-compostable bits

• Take out all contents, packing slips, and any extras.
• Peel off the shipping label and any plastic tape and place those in your regular garbage.
• If the label won’t come off cleanly, cut off that section and compost the rest of the mailer.

Step 2 - Confirm it’s AS 5810 Home Compostable

Look for the Home Compostable mark with a house icon or backyard compost icon. This shows the mailer meets strict tests for home composting - disintegration, biodegradation, and safety for soil life. If you see the icon, it belongs in compost, not in the blue bin. If you want to know more about the certificate, reach out to us and we're happy to share more information.

Step 3 - Choose where to compost

Option A - Backyard or home compost (best)

AS 5810 is designed for home conditions. Add the mailer to your compost just like you would with food scraps and yard waste.

• Cut the mailer into smaller pieces to speed things up.
• Balance your pile: mix greens (fruit peels, coffee grounds) with browns (dry leaves, shredded cardboard).
• Keep it moist but not soggy and turn it every few weeks for airflow.

Under typical backyard conditions, expect it to break down in about 6 - 12 months.

Option B - Municipal composting

Many Canadian programs still do not accept compostable packaging yet. Some do. Check your local guidelines before using the green bin.

Quick search tip: try “compostable packaging + your city name” or your city’s waste tool. If they accept certified compostables, you can place it in the organics stream after removing the label.

Do not recycle

This mailer is plant-based and not recyclable in the blue bin. If composting isn’t available, landfill is a fallback, but home compost is the goal.

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Quick Recap

Step	Action	Why
1	Remove contents, labels, and tape	Only the mailer is compostable
2	Confirm the AS 5810 home icon and certificate number	Verifies true home compostability
3	Cut into small pieces and add to compost	Smaller pieces break down faster
4	Balance greens and browns, keep moist, turn sometimes	Airflow and moisture help microbes do the work
5	Give it 6 - 12 months	Ends as finished compost with no microplastics

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Why AS 5810 matters

Plenty of things claim to be “compostable.” AS 5810 is different. It’s tested to break down at home temperatures - not only in hot industrial facilities. That means your mailer can return to soil even if your city doesn’t accept compostable packaging in the green bin.

The Vearthy way

High Quality, Low Impact is more than a tagline. We pick materials that work in real life - at home, in Canadian climates, and without special equipment. When your order arrives, you enjoy the product, then send the packaging back to the earth. Simple, practical, low impact.

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FAQs

Can I compost the shipping label?

No. Most labels and adhesives aren’t compostable. Peel off and trash the label, then compost the mailer.

What if I live in an apartment?

Small balcony bins and community garden composts are great options. Cutting the mailer into smaller pieces helps in compact setups.

What if my city accepts compostable packaging?

Follow their instructions. If AS 5810 packaging is accepted, place the mailer in the organics stream after removing the label.

How will I know it’s breaking down?

Pieces get soft, brittle, and disappear over months. Turning the pile and keeping good moisture will speed it up.

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Reminder: Always remove shipping labels and tape. Composting guidance can vary by municipality. If local programs don’t accept compostable packaging, your home compost is still the right destination.

Thanks for keeping your impact low.

Purchase your own compostable bubbler mailers here

 

And if you’re new to Vearthy, here are a few of our favourite planet-friendly essentials: