How Paper Bags Biodegrade?

Question

I'm working on a group project (no, I don't need you to do my work for me), and this is my task: "find sites on the biodegradability of paper bags including  any elements or compounds that are released or recycled back into the environment."

Except I can't find any information on how paper grocery bags biodegrade! Nearly all of the sources I've found say nothing more than that they do biodegrade, but not very well in landfills. I know that paper bags are made from kraft paper, so if anyone can find any resources on what happens when kraft paper biodegrades, that would help me a lot!

10 points to best resource

Clay C · Accepted Answer

I don't know much about the subject but I do know that paper bags are made mostly of cellulose, the same thing as wood, and paper.  

If you do a search on biodegradation of cellulose, or cellulose biodegradation you should finds some useful information.

Anonymous · Answer

http://www.reason.org/commentaries/smithheisters_20080417.shtml

that is a pretty good comparison between paper and plastic and how much energy it takes to degrade the two.

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How Paper Bags Biodegrade?

2 Answers