Question

Describe the types of biodegradable waste giving examples.

Answer 1

Hint: Look around your locality. You might find two coloured waste-bins generally red and green in colour and labelled dry and wet waste. Find out what those terms mean and list some examples of both types of waste. Split the word ‘biodegradable’ to get the meaning of this waste and then think all types of waste fall under the banner of biodegradable waste to get the answer.

Complete step by step solution:
Let us first know the meaning of biodegradable wastes. Any organic matter which can be decayed into simpler organic compounds like carbon dioxide, water, methane, etc. due to the action of environmental factors like microorganisms and other living organisms is known as biodegradable waste. The way the microorganisms turn the wastes into simple organic molecules includes processes like composting, aerobic digestion, anaerobic digestion or similar processes.
Biodegradable wastes can be found as municipal solid waste. Biodegradable waste is also classified into municipal biodegradable waste, green waste, paper waste, biodegradable plastics. Some of the other types of biodegradable wastes include human waste, manure, sewage, sewage sludge and slaughterhouse waste.
We should also know that in the absence of oxygen, much of this waste will decay to methane by the process of anaerobic digestion. In the domestic waste collection, the scope of biodegradable waste may be restricted to include only those degradable wastes which can be processed in local waste handling facilities.

Additional information:
The main environmental hazard that can be generated from the biodegradable waste is the production of landfills. It is known to us that there is a production of landfill gas. It is proved from the research that this production of landfill gas is influenced by various waste physiochemical composition and also environmental variables.

Note: Biodegradable waste can be separated from the rest of the waste stream, by the use of separate curbside collection or also by the use of waste sorting after the collection. The biodegradable waste, at the point of collection from the various processes, is also known as green waste.