Side by side
Biodegradable Mulch Film vs. Plastic: Cost & Soil Compared
Conventional plastic mulch and biodegradable mulch film do the same job in the field. The difference shows up at the end of the season — in removal labor, disposal fees, and what stays behind in your soil. Here is the honest comparison.
At a glance
The two films are close in the field and far apart after harvest. Here is the season-long picture, side by side:
| PE plastic mulch | Biodegradable mulch film | |
|---|---|---|
| In-season performance | Warms soil, holds moisture, blocks weeds | Comparable — same warm, moist, weed-free bed |
| End-of-season removal | Lifted & rolled — ~8–11 labor-hours/acre | None — tilled into the soil |
| Disposal | Hauled & landfilled; tipping fees | No disposal — microbes break it down in-field |
| Soil impact | Fragments persist as microplastics | Designed to mineralize fully (no microplastics) |
| Upfront roll price | Lower | Higher |
| Total cost per season | Roll price + removal labor + disposal | Higher roll price, no removal or disposal |
In the field: a near-tie
For decades, plastic mulch has been a staple of modern agriculture — and for good reason. It suppresses weeds, conserves water, and warms the soil, all of which support higher yields. A quality soil-biodegradable film delivers the same in-season agronomy: the same warm, moist, weed-free seedbed.
So the decision rarely comes down to in-season performance. It comes down to what each film costs you after the harvest.
The end-of-season bill
Conventional PE plastic mulch
- Removal labor. The film must be lifted and rolled by hand or machine — labor-intensive, and a real cost on large operations.
- Disposal & hauling. Removed plastic typically goes to landfill, incurring tipping fees plus the cost of hauling it off the farm.
- Residue risk. Plastic that tears during removal leaves fragments behind in the field.
Biodegradable mulch film
- No removal. Soil microbes break the film down in place — the removal-labor line largely disappears.
- No disposal fees. With nothing to send to landfill, tipping and hauling costs for mulch go away.
- Faster turnaround. A clear field can be prepped for the next crop sooner.
A typical acre of plastic mulch leaves an estimated 100–120 lb of plastic to remove and landfill each season.[1] University extension budgets put that end-of-season job at roughly 8–11 labor-hours per acre,[1] which one University of Georgia Extension budget itemized at about $116 per acre in removal labor plus about $50 per acre to landfill it.[1] Your numbers will depend on crop, region, and wage rates — which is exactly what the savings calculator works out for your farm.
What stays behind: microplastics
This is where the comparison stops being about money and starts being about your most valuable asset — the soil itself.
Conventional plastic films break down into tiny, persistent pieces known as microplastics, which accumulate in mulched soil and persist for years — a long-term field study tracked rising microplastic abundance over three decades of plastic-film mulching.[1] Once there, these particles can alter soil structure, water-holding dynamics, and microbial activity.[1] And the “bio” label is no guarantee: if a biodegradable plastic isn’t fully degraded in soil, it too can leave fragments and microplastics behind.[1] A genuinely soil-biodegradable film, by contrast, is converted by soil microbes into natural elements rather than fragmenting — protecting the soil from the contamination that can quietly erode fertility and yield over time.
Making the switch
Switching doesn’t mean changing how you farm in-season — it means removing the cleanup season entirely. For how the breakdown actually happens, see how biodegradable mulch film works, or start from the complete guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is biodegradable mulch film more expensive than plastic?
Doesn't PLA / bioplastic film solve the plastic problem?
What happens to plastic mulch left in the field?
Is biodegradable mulch worth the extra cost?
Does biodegradable mulch actually break down?
References
- 1.USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Biodegradable Mulch Film Petition (estimated 100–120 lb/acre of petroleum-based mulch waste landfilled per season). Link
- 2.Fonsah, E.G. & Shealey, J. (2019). Estimated Cost Per Acre of Removing and Replacing Plastic Mulch. University of Georgia Extension (removal labor ≈ $116/acre; landfill disposal ≈ $50/acre). Link
- 3.Velandia, M. et al. The Economics of Adopting Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films. University of Tennessee Extension (8–11 labor-hours/acre to remove and dispose of PE mulch). Link
- 4.Li, S. et al. (2022). Macro- and microplastic accumulation in soil after 32 years of plastic film mulching. Environmental Pollution, 300, 118945. Link
- 5.de Souza Machado, A.A. et al. (2018). Impacts of Microplastics on the Soil Biophysical Environment. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(17), 9656–9665. Link
- 6.Withana, P.A. et al. (2025). Biodegradable plastics in soils: sources, degradation, and effects. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts (RSC). Link