ASTM D5210 – 92 test method consists of selecting plastic material for testing, obtaining sludge from an anaerobic-digester at a waste-treatment plant, exposing the plastic material to the inoculum obtained from the sewage sludge, measuring total evolved biogas (CH₄ and CO₂) as a function of time, soluble organic carbon (SOC), and residual polymer weight at the termination of the test, and assessing degree of biodegradability.

This test method is designed to index plastic materials that are more or less biodegradable relative to a positive standard in an anaerobic environment. The test method is applicable to all plastic materials that are not inhibitory to the microorganisms present in anaerobic sewage sludge.

Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee D20 on Plastics, this test method was withdrawn in January 2016.

BPC Blue is a fully automated biodegradability testing system suitable for ASTM D5210. It allows for continuous and on-line monitoring of released biogas (CH₄ and CO₂) and is a fully integrated and automated system for sampling, analysing, recording, and generating reports. BPC Blue is the perfect analytical tool that offers standardised measurement procedures, data interpretations and reports.