Clear Spud

I have been putting those yellowish compostable utensils in the compost bin, which cuts down on the volume in the landfill bin. However, I just realized that the clear plastic cups we have been using the past year are also compostable. That's wonderful news to me. I wonder if the clear plastic straws are compostable as well? Compostable vs biodegradable is a bit confusing. Some sites say biodegradable is the broader category, some say the opposite. Some say the difference is based on the process, some say the difference is based on the metrics of the post-degrade material.

http://q.okdaily.com/?waffle,1534