Strimmer line

[sime42]

Evening all.

I fear this is wishful thinking but has anyone seen or heard of any biodegradable strimmer line? I was dismayed to see so many little bits left all over the place after I'd been doing a bit today.

[tractorboy1]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Oregon-559048-Biotrim-Biodegradable-Roundline-3-0mm-x-10m-Strimmer-Line/361936059036?epid=1640775738&hash=item544511fa9c%3Ag%3AWhIAAOSw4CFY1T1K&_sacat=0&_nkw=biodegradable+strimmer+line&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m570.l1313

[openspaceman]

48 minutes ago, tractorboy1 said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Oregon-559048-Biotrim-Biodegradable-Roundline-3-0mm-x-10m-Strimmer-Line/361936059036?epid=1640775738&hash=item544511fa9c%3Ag%3AWhIAAOSw4CFY1T1K&_sacat=0&_nkw=biodegradable+strimmer+line&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m570.l1313

I'm not keen on strimmers because they leave abraded bits of plastic and also the damage people do to stems with them. I don't consider the waste to be on the same scale as fibres from washing machines.

 

The above link is a bit ambiguous, it says the line will biodegrade and rot away, all good if it rots to CO2 and water but most biodegradable plastics just de-polymerise to some extent, the smaller pieces then retain their chemical structure.

 

Having been caught out with adding tea bags to the compost bin I'd like a bit more information but would use a compostable line (even though its shelf life would be short).

[sandspider]

I use a blade for everything! And recently a hedgecutter for bracken, seems to work pretty well.

[Haironyourchest]

Interesting notion, always just accepted it as a fact of life myself, but it would be nice to have such a product. I don't get along with blades myself. There use to be a lethal chain head that was supposed to be very effective but too dangerous for my taste. I'd imagine one of the plastic pivoting tri-blades would be good though never tried.

[Blugg]

Were you aware that if you soak Strimmer line in water over night it becomes less brittle ? Perhaps off topic but thought I'd share :)

[Dan Maynard]

I've seen that in the instructions and wondered why. Never got round to trying it obviously.

[Stere]

Some info:

 

http://www.oregonproducts.eu/site/products/biotrim/Biotrim_flyer_en.pdf

 

So is turns to compost or  microplastics im still unsure?

 

EDIT> actually says  its eaten by mircoorganisms

 

 

 

Some of the "eco" tree shelters just have less UV stabalizer in them so break up faster sounds worse than non eco ones imo...

 

 

Edited July 16, 2018 by Stere

[openspaceman]

1 hour ago, Stere said:

Some info:

 

http://www.oregonproducts.eu/site/products/biotrim/Biotrim_flyer_en.pdf

 

So is turns to compost or  microplastics im still unsure?

 

EDIT> actually says  its eaten by mircoorganisms

 

Yes looks good

1 hour ago, Stere said:

 

 

 

Some of the "eco" tree shelters just have less UV stabalizer in them so break up faster sounds worse than non eco ones imo...

 

 

Yes I agree

[sime42]

Cheers for the input chaps. I'm not completely sure how Biodegradable that Oregon line is either but I think I'll give it a go anyway. I too have been caught out by tea bags in my compost. And was pretty annoyed about having to fish out all those little bits of plastic paper even after a couple of years!
I can see the obvious benefits of using metal blades but in the urban work environment there's far too many hard things around like brick walls, paving slabs and tarmac etc! Which is also a reason I see so many little bits of broken line around I suppose.
So this issue of plastic fibre pollution from washing clothes is pretty depressing. It's not something I've been aware of before but I'd guess the scale of it is huge. What's the solution apart from trying to fit fine filters to washing machine outlets?