As the number of people on Earth increases, naturally, we need more resources to satisfy everyone’s needs and wants. With the current population at 7.4 billion, which is only increasing as the days pass by, we cannot expect to utilise a lesser numbers of resources. We need more land, more water, more food, more oil, more factories, etc. Naturally, this means that more waste will also be generated. Let’s understand what happens to the waste that we add to the environment.
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Waste generated by us:
Let’s look at some things that are thrown away by us.
Some more things include empty medicine bottles, clothes and shoes that are old and torn, and used stationery items including pens with plastic bodies, rulers, sharpeners, pencils made of wood, glass bottles, etc.
It is important to understand that not all of these items will decompose and disappear if we dump them into the earth. All resources can be classified into two types, based on this factor of decomposition, i.e. biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Thus, it is essential for us to segregate our waste materials and dispose of them accordingly.
Biodegradable waste:
Such substances can be broken down into simpler substances by biological processes carried out by certain kinds of microorganisms, and hence will decompose eventually. Examples of biodegradable wastes include natural substances such as vegetable peels, tea leaves, stale food, cotton, woollen or silk clothes, etc.
Non-biodegradable waste:
These substances cannot be broken down by the action of certain bacteria and other microorganisms and do not get decomposed easily. Heat and pressure do affect such substances, however, they take a lot of time to decompose and harm the ecosystem.
To learn more about the ecosystem, biodegradable and non-biodegradable items and garbage disposal, download BYJU’S- The Learning App.
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