Is Silicone Biodegradable or Recyclable? A Full Breakdown
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Silicone is an unusual material, neither rubber nor plastic, that’s known for its durability and heat resistance. But when it comes to environmental impact, many people wonder:
Is silicone biodegradable? Does silicone biodegrade? Does silicone decompose? And importantly, is silicone recyclable?
In this article, I’ll answer those questions in detail, plus more!
Is silicone biodegradable?
Short answer: No, silicone is not biodegradable.
The term “biodegradable” means a material can be broken down by living organisms, like bacteria and fungi, into natural elements within a relatively short time.
For example, food scraps are biodegradable because microbes decompose them quickly.
Silicone, however, is a hybrid material made from synthetic rubber and plastic polymers. It’s chemically stable, non-reactive, and can withstand extreme temperatures, from -55 °C to +300 °C, making it very durable.
Because of this, it doesn’t break down easily in nature, and does not biodegrade naturally.
Does silicone decompose over time?
Silicone does not break down into smaller micro-pieces like plastic does. Instead, it remains intact for a very long time.
Some studies show silicone can become brittle if exposed to certain harsh conditions, like high heat combined with saline environments. But this breakdown is very slow and requires specific environmental factors, not something that happens naturally in most landfills or the environment.
Because silicone doesn’t fragment into microplastics, it’s safer for wildlife and marine life, as animals are less likely to ingest harmful particles. However, its long lifespan means it can persist in landfills or nature for hundreds of years if not recycled.
How long does silicone take to decompose?
It can take from 50 years to 500 years. There is no one single answer to this, as it depends on the environment and if the silicone is exposed to specific conditions. If buried in oxygen-poor landfills, decomposition takes even longer.
Is silicone bad for the environment?
Like almost everything, it really depends on how you use it.
Silicone is extremely durable – it can withstand freezing and piping-hot temperatures. This means you can reuse it over and over again.
When you have a silicone product as an alternative to single-use plastics, silicone is the better option, and it ISN’T bad for the environment.
In fact, it can reduce a lot of waste. For example, the average woman uses 10,000-12,000 disposable menstrual products in their lifetime.
A single silicone menstrual cup can last up to 10 years! So, using a menstrual cup can dramatically cut down on single-use waste from period products.
Is silicone eco-friendly?
Some silicone products are excellent eco-friendly alternatives to plastic because they last longer and reduce disposable waste.
That said, silicone is still a synthetic material, and producing it requires energy and resources. So, while it’s better than single-use plastics in many cases, it’s not a zero-impact material.
Is silicone safer than plastic?
In many ways, yes.
- Since 1979, the US FDA has considered food-grade silicone safe for cookware and food storage.
- Health Canada also states silicone rubber cookware poses no known health risks.
- Silicone does not leach chemicals into food or beverages and does not release hazardous fumes during normal use. (1)(2)(3)
- It’s non-toxic to aquatic and soil organisms.
However, some studies suggest caution with long-term exposure. For example, siloxanes (silicone building blocks) were detected after prolonged exposure of silicone bakeware to alcohol solutions, which means caution is warranted, especially with food heating.
Related post: Is Silicone Better Than Plastic?
Is silicone recyclable?
Yes – silicone can be recycled, but it’s not accepted in most regular curbside recycling programs.
To recycle silicone properly, you usually need to send it to specialized facilities that can process it. If you throw silicone in your plastic recycling bin, it will likely end up in a landfill.
Most silicone items are supposed to last you 10-20 years if you take proper care of them. Once they reach the end of their life, it is best to be recycled. Try to find an online silicone recycling facility nearby and try to contact them if you have questions.
How to recycle silicone products?
At home (DIY)
You can repurpose old silicone by mixing shredded pieces with fresh silicone to make new rubber-like products.
Steps:
- Prepare a mold (buy or DIY).
- Shred old silicone into small pieces using scissors or a blade.
- Mix shredded silicone with fresh silicone (available as powder or liquid in kits).
- Pour the mixture into the mold and let it cure.
Note: Using too much old silicone can reduce the strength of the final product.
Recycling silicone at facilities
Specialized recycling centers use chemical processes to break down silicone into reusable materials, like silicone oil for lubricants. This process is energy-intensive, but is improving with newer technologies.
TL;DR
- Silicone is not biodegradable but is very durable and long-lasting.
- It does not decompose easily and can persist for decades.
- Silicone is recyclable, but usually only at specialized facilities, not in regular bins.
- Choose reusable silicone products over disposable plastics to reduce waste.
- When finished with silicone items, check local recycling options or try DIY repurposing.
Conclusion
Silicone is not biodegradable, but it’s a durable, safer alternative to single-use plastics in many cases. It can last decades with proper care and is recyclable through specialized methods, though recycling access remains limited.
Until recycling silicone becomes more accessible, the best approach is to choose silicone products wisely, use them long-term, and recycle whenever possible.
What’s your favorite silicone product, and why? Share in the comment section below! Mine is certainly a menstrual cup.
I like the silicone caps that you put on cut fruits and vegetables to avoid using a plastic bag. There is a variety of sizes, the small fits a half lemon perfectly, other sizes fit a half onion, orange, apple, and some of the larger ones may fit on a jar or small container. I don’t see any reason to use silicone for baking, if you are trying to avoid polluting the earth. My second favorite product is reusable zip lock bags. There are times when you just need a bag rather than a container. They go into the freezer OK. They wash up pretty well and save hundreds of single use plastics from going into the landfill. But, my overall preference is, if there is a non-plastic alternative, use it. Waxed paper “sometimes” works, but I haven’t found any waxed cloths that really work to seal a kitchen bowl. The wax is too thick and can’t be warmed with my hands. I was hoping for a thin waxed cloth bag that can be sealed at the top, but it would be very hard to wash that without ruining it. I like glass bowls for food storage, but of course they need a plastic seal or top. I have many glass square canisters with glass tops, that have just a plastic seal. I have had them for years and use them for everything from brown sugar to dry beans to flour to nuts and dried fruits and veg. They last forever unless you drop them on a hard surface.
Claudia Martin here.
Thank you for this article—I happened upon and just devoured every word—I had assumed it was a petroleum product!!! What a bad assumption.
Thank you—this inquiring mind needed to know!!❤️❤️❤️
I am curious to know how the pushing of silicone products will end up. As they become more available I think that while they are very useful and may last many, many times the life of a plastic bag, what is going to happen to all this silicone? I have some lunch boxes I used for leftovers from a restaurant. I don’t heat up the leftovers in the container, just carry it home. I figure we’ve saved a lot of styrofoam containers from the trash. However, interestingly, only one person I know has taken up the idea to bring a container for the leftovers. That’s not much of an example for us. Then again, we continue to use our take-away containers and almost never use the ones the restaurants hand out. Not only is that trash, but is also an expense for the restaurant and people expect it to be free and available. I would like to see it not used so much. I wonder how many people end up throwing away those leftovers. Thanks for the article. It did pretty much answer all of my questions. I don’t think I would ever have been able to use the menstrual cup but it is a very good idea. Then again, it’s not an issue any longer. : )
Silicone is an invasive material.
Like plastic even in the rare case the materiel makes it to the recycler is shape to be reused it’s only good for 30% or so of the mix. Buried or burnt it stays in the environment for generations to come.
We must demand that a products have a life cycle before their allowed to be sold..
I have a silcone produce bag. The produce went bad from getting old. The smell is left in the bag and the bag is stained, although I did spend quite a bit of time trying to clean it. That seems to imply that some chemicals from the bad produce remain in the structure of the bag, that is, have leached into it. It stands to reason that such a process is also capable of going the other direction. That is, chemicals from the silicone can go into the food that is being stored.
And thanks so much for your informative article.
Thanks for the article. I use silicone storage bags for all kinds of food items. Very durable and I will be passing them down to my grandkids so hopefully they will be used for a long time. Glad to hear that they are so durable and not as toxic as single use plastic.
Very informative article. Thank you for your information and insight. This will influence how I buy/use silicone products.
Thank you. I’ve had, and guess still do regarding the use of silicone. I have a few but opted more for glass, and have only a few silicone containers as they have the advantage of being lighter in weight. I use bees wax wraps & stretchy silicone food/container covers.
My favorite silicone product is adult toys. Platinum silicone is very safe and most importantly gentle as compared to glass or plastic. You get what you pay for and platinum silicone is the only type of silicone I trust back there. They do in fact have a few areas you can send your old adult toys to if you are interested in recycling. Just do a quick search.
Interesting article glad it was posted! More people should learn about silicone. Not all silicone is created equal. Buy the right kind for the right use. Platinum silicone cost more but is the only one considered body safe.
As far as landfills go they are okay besides being an eye sore till they leak!!! A local one a few towns over leaked and the neighbors started getting real sick and finally had the water tested. Turns out the ground water by that landfill is now undrinkable! Landfill is still there though. I think they dug it up and “repaired” it though.
Either you burn it and breath it in or bury it and drink it. Hopefully they can make recycling more main stream and easier soon.