What to do with biodegradable things?

What to do with biodegradable things?

Biodegradable things are those products that can easily break down naturally by water, microorganisms, oxygen, sunlight, or radiation. During the process, organic forms of matter are broken into simpler units. After disposing of it, the matter returns to the soil. This disposed product helps in soil nourishment. Biodegradable waste is also known as green waste or recyclable waste. Other products that can’t break down into simpler units are known as non-biodegradable waste. You may have seen separate biodegradable and nonbiodegradable trash cans in public places.

Each country has its set of standards that can be considered biodegradable products. Using biodegradable items instead of non-biodegradable ones is good for the environment. But non all biodegradable products break down easily. Some products like food items can be disposed of easily. Whereas, other products may take months or years for proper disposal. The disposal time of the product majorly depends on the environment it is disposed of in. 

Disposing of biodegradable items

The best method to dispose of biodegradable waste like food items, orbeez biodegradable, etc is composting and vermicomposting. 

Composting

Common biodegradable wastes are waste food, vegetable peels, dead flowers, leaves, eggshells, etc. These items can easily be converted into manure. You can bury them in compost pits and the items get disposed of naturally. This method of biodegradable waste disposal is known as composting. This method is very simple, effortless, and does not cause any harm to the environment. 

Vermicomposting 

Another kind of composting where the waste is disposed of with the help of earthworms (red worms) is known as vermicomposting. Red worms can easily break down organic matter into manure. This nutrient-rich manure helps in increasing soil fertility. Vermicompost can be made in about a month and it looks like loose soil. You should not put any kind of animal product or oily substance in the vermicompost pit as it can lead to the growth of disease-causing organisms. 

Electric composters for home, school, or offices

In big concrete cities, creating a compost pit or vermicompost pit is difficult. If you don’t have space to create a traditional compost pit then you can go for electric composters. These composters are excellent to dispose of kitchen waste at home. Electric composters are freestanding appliances that easily break down food waste into compost. Usually, electric composters are small in size similar to air fryers. But you can also find them in big trash bin sizes. Traditional composting is based on aerobic microbes to break the matte into compost. Whereas the electric composter heats and grinds the waste over several hours. The waste turns into dry and loose substances that can easily add to potted plants. 

Landfills

Landfills are also an easy method to dispose of biodegradable waste. A large area is used for waste disposal which is known as landfills. In the landfill, the biodegradable waste is buried in a way that does not cause harm to the environment. The waste is buried inside the landfill for a long time to get disposed of naturally. Once the landfill is full, it is usually converted into parks and other public places. The landfills are built using clay. A plastic barrier is used to ensure that the garbage does mix with the underlying soil and groundwater. This is necessary to protect the area near the landfill. Pipes are used to collecting rainwater that seeps through the landfill area. Every day all the waste is buried in a separate cell (compartment). These cells are separated using layers of soil. Usually, bulldozers are used to compress the old cells and make more space for new cells. This is an easy method for waste disposal. However, if the waste leaks or remains open for a long time then it may cause diseases. 

Managing non-biodegradable products

Products that can’t be decomposed or dissolved naturally are known as non-biodegradable items. These products can act as a huge source of pollution as they remain for years without degradation. Common non-biodegradable items are plastic metal, tires, toxic chemicals, polystyrene, etc. To protect the planet and keep the surroundings safe and clean, you should reduce the use of non-biodegradable products.

Though they are very harmful to the earth, we can’t fully eliminate them unless we find good alternatives for them. In the household, the most common non-biodegradable items are plastic bags and glass bottles. 

5 R’s to manage non-biodegradable products

Applying the 5 R’s methodology to manage non-biodegradable products can help to reduce pollution. 5 R’s methodology reduces the amount of waste generated. Every school must have classes that teach students about the 5 R’s methodology. If you can’t dispose of the waste the 5 R’s is the best way to manage it. 

Refuse

The first element of the 5 R’s is ``Refuse''. This is the first and most important step. You can reduce waste by refusing it. Refuse unnecessary packaging on products. Whenever you walk into a convenience store, carry a bag. Avoid using plastic bags for carrying daily items. Try using reusable tumblers. Make smart purchases that can reduce the non-biodegradable items at your home. A simple refusal of plastic and other non-biodegradable items can help a lot.

Reduce 

There are certain items that you need in daily life. Make small-small changes in the lifestyle to reduce the dependency on those products. Whenever you go out shopping, try to reduce plastic usage. Any small changes like printing on both sides can reduce paper usage.

Reuse

Single-use plastic is the biggest problem. If we use plastic this way, you may see huge environmental issues in a few years. Instead of buying new, you must reuse the items. At home, replace single-use items. At offices, you can replace single-use utensils like styrofoam cups. Use items that can be cleaned and reused. Encourage reusing items like food containers, rechargeable batteries, cardboard boxes, etc.

Repurpose

Certain items can’t be reused, so you should try repurposing them. Talk to green community people or search the web and find ways to repurpose the items. Items like hard plastic cups etc can be reused but for a certain time. If you can’t use them for storing food items or drinking juices then use them for storing other items. You can use old coffee mugs or mason jars as pen holders. Use old cardboard boxes for storing supplies. 

Recycle

Recycling is the best and most environment-friendly way of waste disposal. Items like paper, certain metals, etc can be recycled. Talk to nearby companies that take recyclable items. You can give the waste items and even get money. Recycling can be very helpful for the environment. 

Note: Paper is also a recyclable product but you should reduce the overuse of paper. It is made from trees. Today,the depletion of trees is becoming one of the biggest concerns. You should write on both sides of the paper sheets. Try reusing envelopes and covers. You can also make fresh paper from old pages and newspapers.