Paper Mate has sent me a set of pens and pencils the company claims are biodegradable.

The company says many of the components are made from a corn-based material that biodegrades in soil or compost in about a year. A diagram on the package (which is recyclable) indicates that about half the components still have to be trashed, including the grip and the ink refill, but that's a 50 percent drop from your regular pen.

A set of two pens is $3.59 on Amazon. But it also looks like OfficeDepot, Staples and other office supply shops carry them.

There are two comments on the Amazon site, and both seem to have a concern about the their ability to biodegrate. It seems they won't degrate in a landfill but will in a composter -- so they must need other elements such as air and sun.

Anyone tried these pens? If not, I'll pass them around the office for use and then collect them to bury it in my yard and report back. (In a year.)