[moose]

Just been talking to a friend who has bought a huge bag of what is claimed to be bio-degradable polystyrene peanuts which he is going to use in his sowing/potting compost. I've never come across these wondering if anyone knows about or uses them.

[aelf]

I've heard of some that are made from mushrooms - radio news report, if I remember right. The business was using them as biodegradable packaging

[Aunt Sally]

Do you have any more information about the ones your friend has bought ?  Are they these ? (scroll down a bit):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foam_peanut

If they are then he may have been "had".  They are packing pieces made of starch that are used instead of polystyrene.  When they get wet the dissolve down to nothing and the residue is digested microbes.

http://www.starchtech.com/faqs/faq-dispose-of-packing-peanuts.html

[aelf]

found this:

http://www.ecovativedesign.com/products-and-applications/packaging/

[aelf]

and this:

http://www.livescience.com/21274-mushrooms-replace-plastics-nsf-bts.html

[diospyros]

I had noticed many years ago that some polystyrene type packaging looked like Wotsits and couldn't resist, only to find they dissolve and go soggy.  There is marketed a kids' modelling kit cashing in on this, you wet them and they stick together, but I can't remember what they are called.

[moose]

I just checked and they are the ones Aunt Sally's link led to- made from starch. £10 for 5 cubic feet that will dissolve in water, pity he didn't ask first!