|
 Ever wonder what "biodegradable" really means? It's a term we are beginning to hear in our industry, but as anything new, the details can get a little confusing. Let us help you understand what the process is.
What Is Biodegradable?
Simply put, when something is labeled "biodegradable" it means it can be broken down by tiny organisms like bacteria, algae, and fungi. They turn the material into natural substances such as water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. This process is a fundamental part of Earth's natural life cycle, as these microbes essentially "eat" the material and recycle its components back into the environment.
It's important to understand that the term "biodegradable" doesn't specify a timeframe. While a banana peel might disappear in a few weeks, a regular plastic bag could take hundreds of years. This is why you'll often hear the term compostable. A compostable material is a special kind of biodegradable material that breaks down in a specific environment (like commercial composting facilities) within a set period, leaving behind no toxic residue. All compostable items are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable items are compostable.
The Process of Decomposition
The breakdown of biodegradable materials is a fascinating, multi-step biological process.
Aerobic Biodegration (with oxygen): This is what happens in compost piles or in the open environment. Microorganisms use oxygen to consume the material, breaking it down into carbon dioxide, water, and new biomass. This process is generally faster and more complete and it is the foundation of industrial composting.
Biodegration does not usually occur naturally in anaerobic environments (without oxygen). As a result, not even organic matter biodegrades efficiently in landfills. We strongly encourage everyone to look into their local channels for sending compostable materials to industrial composting facilities so we can all reduce the amount of waste that is piling up in our landfills every day.
|
