How are plant and animal waste recycled in nature?


Targets
At the end of this unit, you should be able to answer the following questions:

1. How is nature the perfect recycler?

1.1 What are plant and animal wastes?

1.2 How are plant and animal wastes recycled in nature?

1.3 What makes waste biodegradable?
2. What types of waste result from human activity?

2.1 What is toxic waste?

2.2 How is waste disposed of in your community?

2.3 How can we protect our natural resources?
3. How can we reduce the amount of waste produced?

3.1 How is a product made, used, and disposed?

3.2 Why is one packaging better than another is?

3.3 How have individuals and/or groups made a difference about waste in our world? 
Targets
Imagine what the planet would look like if plant and animal wastes never disappeared.  If every dead plant or animal did not rot or decay, Earth would soon be overloaded with dead things!  Fortunately, this does not happen because nature is the perfect recycler.  When something dies, it becomes food or nutrients for other living things.  For example, when leaves fall from a tree, they decompose on the ground and add nutrients to the soil.  The nutrient-rich soil then helps other plants or trees to grow.

 Video

Watch this video called Decomposers to see their important work!