Question

Which of the following groups contain only biodegradable items?
(a)Glass, flowers, and leather
(b)Wood and grass
(c)Fruit-peels, cake, and lime-juice
(d)Both B and C

Answer 1

Hint: Biodegradable materials are the ones that, through natural processes, can be degraded into certain usable forms. The microorganisms present in our community, such as bacteria and other decomposer organisms (called saprophytes), are unique in their behavior. Materials or items made of natural materials (such as paper, food) are broken down, but man-made materials such as plastics are not broken down.

Complete answer:
Biodegradable waste is considered waste that is capable of being quickly broken down or decomposed by the actions of microorganisms. The microbes can quickly disassemble fruit peels, cake, lime juice, wood, and grass.
Fruits are organic substances which can be introduced by microorganisms and converted into simple organic substances by the process of decomposition. The fruits are made of cellulose and pectin that can be broken down by the microbial enzyme that is secreted.
Examples of biodegradable materials include human and animal excreta, plant products such as rubber, paper, wood, leaves, cotton and wool, living organisms' remains, cooking waste, and agricultural waste.

Additional Information: Non-biodegradable waste is one that cannot be decomposed or dissolved by natural agents. They have stayed for thousands of years on earth without any deterioration.
Examples of non-biodegradable materials include glass, plastics, electrical devices, computer parts, batteries, medical waste, plastic bags, plastic bottles, tetra-packs, and carbon paper.
The environmental problems and hazards of biodegradable waste are therefore bad. Non-biodegradable waste requires replacement and is not environmentally friendly. The plastics that are widely used material are a notable example in almost every area.
So, the correct answer is, ‘Both B and C (Wood, grass, fruit-peels, cake and lime juice)’.

Note: Waste products that are and can be destroyed by natural factors such as microbes (e.g. bacteria, fungi, etc.), abiotic elements such as temperature, UV, oxygen, etc., are biodegradable waste materials. Together, complex compounds are broken down by microorganisms and other abiotic influences into simpler organic matter that eventually suspends and fades into the soil. The whole mechanism is natural and can be slow or quick.