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Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Substances

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BIODEGRADABLE SUBSTANCES Biodegradable matter is generally organic materials such as plant and animal matter and other substances originating from living organisms, or artificial materials that are similar enough to plant and animal matter to be put to use by microorganisms. Some microorganisms have a naturally occurring, microbial catabolic diversity to degrade, transform or accumulate a huge range of compounds including hydrocarbons (e.g. oil), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pharmaceutical substances, radionuclides and metals. Major methodological breakthroughs in microbial biodegradation have enabled detailed genomic, metagenomic, proteomic, bio-informatic and other high-throughput analyses of …show more content…

These substances do not undergo rotting or take a very long time for rotting. For example, polythene bags, plastics, glass, aluminum, iron nails and DDT. Due to their decomposition problem, it is very difficult to get rid of these non-biodegradable substances. Their burning causes lots of pollution. Quite often stray animals eat these substances and die. Sometimes these non-biodegradable substances could be harmful for our health.
Non-biodegradable material is inorganic or man-made matter that will not decompose. Any material that is non-biodegradable does not decay or breakdown into simpler forms of matter.
This means that when disposed of by us, nature cannot reuse these materials to fuel the cycle of life and it will remain as pollution in the environment. It also means, all the resources and energy used to make the material in the first place, are trapped within the waste. Because nature cannot breakdown the material; the matter and energy cannot be reclaimed and reused by the environment to generate more organic matter and energy.
Relying on non-biodegradable materials and ingredients is an unsustainable and polluting practice. It traps resources and energy that cannot be re-claimed in materials that cannot be broken down. Resulting in masses of polluting substances and rubbish that cannot every truly be digested by the planet.
Fortunately we are able to recycle some

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