Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

A substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products,or a synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease Biodegradable waste includes any organic matter in waste which can be broken down into carbon dioxide, water, methane or simple organic molecules by microorganisms and other living things acting in composting, aerobic digestion, anaerobic digestion or similar processes.

Biodegradable waste can be found in municipal solid waste (sometimes called biodegradable municipal waste, or as green waste, food waste, paper waste and biodegradable plastics). Other biodegradable wastes include human waste, manure, sewage, sewage sludge and slaughterhouse waste. Biodegradable waste can be found in municipal solid waste (sometimes called biodegradable municipal waste, or as green waste, food waste, paper waste and biodegradable plastics). Other biodegradable wastes include human waste, manure, sewage, sewage sludge and slaughterhouse waste.

Management of Biodegradable Wastes

Segregation of Wastes

Garbage or waste may be in the form of fruit or vegetable peels, discarded objects, wrapping materials, wasted food as household garbage, or discarded chemicals and fertilizers washed into rivers, domestic sewage, etc. These wastes can be segregated into biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Wastes that rot (undergo degradation) by the action of decomposers (tiny organisms found in the soil) are called biodegradable wastes. Dead plants and animals and their products (e.g., fruit and vegetable peels, paper, and leaves) decay very easily. These wastes mix with the soil and produce manure. Wastes that do not rot by the action of decomposers are called non-biodegradable wastes. For example, glass, plastic, and metals. Many of them can be recycled to produce new things.

Depending on the type of wastes, two garbage bin one for biodegradable wastes and other for non-biodegradable wastes should be used. This will help in easy sorting and recycling of wastes to make beneficial products. Green bins are for biodegradable wastes like vegetables and fruit peels, spoilt food, tea leaves, egg shells, tissue paper, leaves, hair, etc. Blue bins are for recyclable wastes like glass bottles, plastic wastes, old batteries, chocolate wrappers, polythene bags, etc. Some of the ways to manage biodegradable wastes are as follows:

Composting

The Since biodegradable or organic wastes like vegetable peels, waste food, leaves, dead flowers, and egg shells can be recycled, they are converted into manure by burying them in compost pits. Recycling of organic wastes like vegetable peels, waste food, leaves, etc., by burying them in compost pits is called composting. Composting is a simple and almost effortless process of recycling. The biodegradable wastes are degraded by the action of small organisms like bacteria and fungi. There is also a different kind of composting where a kind of earthworm called red worms (or red wrigglers) act on wastes and degrade them.

Vermicomposting

This type of composting with the help of a type of earthworm called red worms, is called vermicomposting. Red worms break down the organic matter into nutrient-rich manure which increases soil fertility. Vermicompost can be made in 3-4 weeks and it appears as loose soillike material. One should not put animal product or oily substance in the pit as it could lead to the growth of disease causing organisms.

Landfills

Large areas used for waste disposal are called landfills. Landfill is another method to manage huge amount, of biodegradable waste. In a landfill, garbage is buried in such a way that it does not damage the environment. Garbage buried inside landfills stay here for a long time as it decomposes very slowly. After a landfill is full, it can be converted into a park. For example, Indraprastha Park.