Biodegradable

Biodegradable :A "biodegradable" product has the ability to break down, safely and relatively quickly, by biological means, into the raw materials of nature and disappear into the environment. These products can be solids biodegrading into the soil (which we also refer to as compostable), or liquids biodegrading into water. Biodegradable plastic is intended to break up when exposed to microorganisms (a natural ingredient such as cornstarch or vegetable oil is added to achieve this result). Crude oil, for example, will biodegrade in its natural state, but once it is turned into plastic, it becomes an unsustainable pollution problem. Instead of returning to the cycle of life, these products simply pollute and litter our land, air, and water.

Biodegradable waste is a type of waste, typically originating from plant or animal sources, which may be broken down by other living organisms. It can be commonly found in municipal solid waste as: •

Green waste

•

Food waste

•

Paper waste

•

Biodegradable plastics

Other biodegradable waste includes: •

Human waste

•

Manure

•

Sewage

•

Slaughterhouse waste

He re 's h ow lon g i t t akes f or s ome com monl y u sed pr od ucts t o bio deg ra de, wh en th ey ar e sc atter ed a bout as litte r:

Cot ton ra gs

1- 5 m ont hs

Pape r

2- 5 m ont hs

Rope

3- 14 mont hs

Orang e pee ls

6 mo nth s

Wo ol so ck s

1 to 5 yea rs

Ciga re tte butts

1 to 12 y ear s

Plas tic c oat ed pa per milk cart ons Leat he r s ho es Nylon fab ric Tin c ans Aluminu m can s Plas tic 6- pack hol de r rin gs Gl as s bo ttle s

5 ye ar s 25 t o 4 0 year s 30 t o 4 0 year s 50 t o 1 00 year s 80 t o 1 00 year s 45 0 yea rs 1 milli on year s

Plas tic b ottl es

Fo re ver

Uses of biodegradable waste :Biodegradable waste is a little recognised resource. Through correct waste management, often using the two key processes of anaerobic digestion and composting, it can be converted into valuable products. Anaerobic digestion converts biodegradable waste into several products, including biogas, which can be used to generate renewable energy or heat for local heating, and soil amendment .Composting converts biodegradable waste into compost.

Biodegradable waste and global warming :Biodegradable waste is an important substance due to its links with global warming. When it is disposed of in landfills, it breaks down under uncontrolled anaerobic conditions. This produces landfill gas which, if not harnessed, escapes into the atmosphere. Landfill gas contains methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

Methods of measuring biodegradation :Biodegradation can be measured in a number of ways. The activity of aerobic microbes can be measured by the amount of oxygen they consume or the amount of carbon dioxide they produce. Biodegradation can be measured by anaerobic microbes and the amount of methane they produce.

Non-biodegradable :Non-biodegradable refers to the inability of a substance to be broken down, and retaining its form for an extended period of time. It is something not biodegradable! Landfills sometimes are filled to capacity because of the amount of nonbiode gradabl e materials dumped!

Non-Biodegradable Pollution :- pollution that accumulates in the environment and may appear in the food chain pollution - undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human activities

Prepared By:Smt. Satinder Kaur (Sc. Mistress) Govt. girls Sr. Sec. School Adarsh Nagar