Biodegradable And Non-Biodegradable Substances

Biodegradable waste consists of waste like food scraps and paper and these are decomposed naturally on the other hand non-biodegradable waste is those kinds of waste which are not degraded easily and these are plastic metals and glass. These non-biodegradable wastes resist themselves and remain in the environment for a longer period. Waste materials management is one of the topics in Biology and they carry a weightage of 2-3% in NEET and 4-5% in CBSE and other Paramedical Exams.

Biodegradable Waste

Any organic material in the garbage that may be broken down by microorganisms and other living things through composting, aerobic digestion, anaerobic digestion, or similar processes into carbon dioxide, water, methane, or simple organic molecules is considered biodegradable waste. Some basic points about biodegradable waste are discussed below:

• Biodegradable waste helps in the reduction of environmental pollution when they are decomposed properly.

• This waste also contributes to the production of compounds which are used to increase soil fertility.

• Decomposition of biodegradable waste occurs faster when compared to non-biodegradable waste.

• Biodegradable waste is also used to generate biogas which is a renewable source of energy during decomposition.

• Biodegradable waste also helps in breaking down the harmful toxins which are present in the environment during the process of decomposition.

• They play a very important role in fixing the natural nutrient cycle and enhancing plant growth and development.

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Sources Of Biodegradable Waste

Biodegradable waste is collected from different natural and organic sources that are decomposed with time. These are the sources which are also important for restoring the nutrients to the ecosystem and they need to be managed sustainably. Some of the major sources of biodegradable waste are discussed below:

• Agriculture waste consists of crop residue animal manure and some of the by-products from farming activities.

• Food waste which is normally collected from households and restaurants consists of leftover spoiled food and also some kind of kitchen wastage which works as a natural fertilizer.

• Garden waste consists of grass clippings, leaves, branches and other plant materials which can be easily decomposed by microorganisms.

• The waste is also collected from would clips and untreated Timber from the construction and carpentry sites.

Non-biodegradable Waste

A chemical that cannot break down or dissolve spontaneously and causes pollution is referred to as non-biodegradable waste. Some of the basic facts about non-biodegradable waste are discussed below:

• They may stay on this planet for a very long time without degrading, which would pose a serious threat to the ecology.

• The incapacity of nature to break down things that humans generate is one of the negative repercussions of current technological progress.

• Nonbiodegradable garbage can persist for hundreds of years and seriously harm the environment.

• They may be seen lying around as litter in parks, rivers, or streams.

• The ecology has suffered as a result of the accumulation of waste products, including plastic.

• As a result, there are now mountains of non-biodegradable rubbish in many parts of large towns.

Non-biodegradable Waste Management

Proper management of this Non-Biodegradable waste is very important. Some important points are discussed below:

• Non-biodegradable garbage destroys the environment and causes harm to people, animals, and plants.

• Non-biodegradable garbage must be handled with care by the government and by every individual.

• It can only be accomplished by recycling, reusing, and reducing.

• Non-biodegradable wastes must be disposed of in a landfill or, if feasible, recycled because they are not eco-friendly.

• To create new plastic bags, for instance, old ones can be pelletized.

Difference between Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Waste

Major differences between Biodegradable and nob- biodegradable waste are discussed below in the table:

Treatments for the Biodegradable And Non-Biodegradable Substances

Whether biodegradable or not, they endanger human life, injure other living things, and degrade the environment. Therefore, garbage must be properly treated. Everybody, including the government, must do this.

The three R—Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce—are the most straightforward actions that anyone can take to contribute. Energy and other resources can both be saved in this way. The separation of non-biodegradable from biodegradable at home and separate disposal of each is a further step.

Types of Questions Asked from Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Waste

During exam preparation, different types of questions about Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable waste are asked. The table below contains the different patterns of questions asked in different exams.

Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Waste

It takes effort to remember everything in a single go. We made the entire problem easy. Some of the tricks regarding Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable waste are given below which you can use to memorise the important points.

Biodegradable Waste

"CODER: Compost, Organic, Decompose, Energy, Recycle"

• C: Composting (converting organic waste into nutrient-rich compost)

• O: Organic (biodegradable materials are organic)

• D: Decompose (biodegradable waste breaks down naturally by microorganisms)

• E: Energy (biodegradable waste can generate renewable energy, like biogas)

• R: Recycle (biodegradable materials can be recycled through composting)

Non-Biodegradable Waste

"PLANT: Persistent, Landfill, Accumulate, Non-decomposable, Toxic"

• P: Persistent (non-biodegradable waste does not break down easily)

• L: Landfills (non-biodegradable waste often ends up in landfills)

• A: Accumulate (non-biodegradable waste builds up in the environment)

• N: Non-decomposable (cannot be broken down by microorganisms)

• T: Toxic (some non-biodegradable materials release harmful toxins)

Waste Management

"RED: Reduce, Reuse, Dispose"

• R: Reduce (minimizing waste generation)

• E: Reuse (finding new ways to use materials instead of discarding them)

• D: Dispose (proper disposal methods like recycling or safe landfill management)

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