Do compostable materials make a difference if it’s all going in the trash can anyway?

Question

Let’s say you buy a bag of chips and the bag states it’s compostable. If you don’t throw the bag of chips in an actual compost and instead put them in the regular trash can, is this equally bad for the environment? Compare to a regular bag of chips made of plastic. If it is better for the compost bags to go in the trash, why? It’s all going underground anyways. Yes I’m aware the plastic will take a lot longer to break down. Would that plastic eventually turn into micro plastic and spoil the soil?

In: 14

Answer 1

Organic materials to landfill = Anaerobic decomposition -> Methane.

Organic materials composted = Aerobic decomposition -> CO2.