What makes waste biodegradable?


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



Loads of waste is hauled to landfills.  This waste is either biodegradable or non-biodegradable.

  • If an object is biodegradable, it will decompose and be recycled naturally.  Plant and animal waste and some human-made things, such as paper products, are biodegradable.

  • Non-biodegradable things do not decompose naturally.  Plastic and glass are non-biodegradable; they will not decompose.  Some of these items can last for hundreds of years in a landfill.