EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -By putting scraps from fruit and vegetables into a compost bin, we reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill. Even though food scraps are biodegradable, they are unable to break down in landfill because the lack of oxygen in this system prevents bacteria, fungi and worms from working.

Detailed explanation-2: -What Does Biodegradable Mean? If something is biodegradable it can be broken down by naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Every material will biodegrade, given enough time (even centuries!). Unlike compostable, the term biodegradable is not regulated.

Detailed explanation-3: -Biodegradable wastes are such waste materials which are and can be degraded by natural factors like microbes (e.g. bacteria, fungi and a few more), and abiotic elements like temperature, UV, oxygen, etc. Some examples of such wastes are food materials, kitchen wastes, and other natural wastes.

Detailed explanation-4: -Biodegradable and compostable materials can be broken down by microorganisms into water, carbon dioxide, mineral salts and new biomass within a defined period of time.

Detailed explanation-5: -» Microorganisms: Microorganisms breakdown organic matter and produce carbon dioxide, water, heat and humus.