Natural garden waste and fruit peelings can be used to make compost
The term "biodegradable" describes products that are able to decompose in a natural, relatively quick and non-harmful way. Plants, fruit and vegetables are all biodegradable products but take varying times to completely decay. Does this Spark an idea?
How It Happens
Worms feed on matter and break it down.
Biodegradation occurs when natural, organic (something that was once living) matter rots and decomposes. During this process, insects, including worms, mites and beetles, feed on the matter and break it down physically into smaller pieces. Smaller organisms, such as fungi and bacteria, break down the remaining matter even further by dissolving it into chemicals and gases. The conditions need to be right with enough oxygen, moisture and heat for the bacteria and other organisms to thrive.
Time Needed for Biodegradation
Food and garden waste will take longer to decompose in a landfill site.
For an item to be deemed biodegradable it needs to be able to decompose within around three to four years. Eventually, all materials will break down, but some will take decades or even centuries to do so. This is why only certain products are called biodegradable, as they only take between a few months to a few years to decompose. Due to the lack of oxygen, water and light in a landfill site, the decaying process is greatly extended compared to decomposition in controlled conditions.
Biodegradation of Fruit
Fruit decays within a few months in the right conditions.
Fruit is one of the quickest biodegradable products to decompose; most fruits take less than three months to break down. Peelings and skins will break down quicker than a whole fruit, and smaller fruits will usually take less time than larger fruits. The type of fruit will also affect the decomposition period. An apple core will usually decompose within two months whereas banana and orange peel will only take around two to three weeks.
Biodegradation of Leaves
Most leaves will decay within two years.
The time it takes for leaves to decompose depends not only on the composting conditions, but on the species of tree or plant that the leaves came from. Oak and beech leaves are the quickest to break down, taking less than a year to decay, whereas sycamore and horse chestnut leaves will take slightly longer. Conifer needles are much tougher and can take up to three years to decompose. You should shred leaves before adding them to your compost pile if you want to speed up the biodegradation process.
Other Biodegradable Products
Leather takes too long to decompose to be considered biodegradable.
Any organic matter in its natural form is biodegradable. This means that there have been no or little manmade changes to the product. Although it originates from a natural material, a leather shoe can take up to 40 years to decompose because it has been modified and treated to make it more suitable for its purpose. Therefore, leather is not classed as biodegradable. Fruit, vegetables, food waste, plants, human and animal waste, cardboard and paper are all biodegradable. Even some plastics are now designed to biodegrade.
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