Biodegradable waste is a type of waste, typically originating from plant or animal sources, which may be broken down by other living organisms. Waste that cannot be broken down by other living organisms may be called non-biodegradable. There are many waste streams consisting of a number of waste types. ... For other uses, see Plant (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ...

Biodegradable waste can be commonly found in municipal solid waste (sometimes called biodegradable municipal waste, or BMW) as Green waste, Food waste, Paper waste, and Biodegradable plastics. Other biodegradable wastes include Human waste, Manure, Sewage, Slaughterhouse waste. Municipal waste redirects here. ... Green waste is biodegradable waste that can be comprised of garden or park waste, such as grass or flower cuttings and hedge trimmings. ... Food waste (also called garbage [1], especially in North American English) is any form of biodegradable waste that was originally intended for consumption. ... For other uses, see Paper (disambiguation). ... Bioplastics are a form of plastics derived from plant sources such as hemp oil, soy bean oil and corn starch rather than traditional plastics which are derived from petroleum. ... Biodegradation is the process by which organic substances are broken down by living organisms. ... Human waste is a waste type usually used to refer to byproducts of digestion, such as faeces and urine. ... Animal manure is often a mixture of animals feces and bedding straw, as in this example from a stable. ... Sewage is the mainly liquid waste containing some solids produced by humans which typically consists of washing water, faeces, urine, laundry waste and other material which goes down drains and toilets from households and industry. ... Slaughterhouse waste is a biodegradable waste with the following definition definition: Animal body parts cut off in the preparation of carcasses for use as food. ...

Uses

Through proper waste management, it can be converted into valuable products by composting, or energy by waste-to-energy processes such as anaerobic digestion and incineration. Anaerobic digestion is the process in which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. ^[1] As part of an integrated waste management system, anaerobic digestion reduces the emission of landfill gas into the atmosphere. Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Waste For the company, see Waste Management, Inc. ... Composting is the aerobic decomposition of biodegradable organic matter, producing compost. ... Waste-to-energy (WtE) or energy-from-waste (EfW) in its strictest sense refers to any waste treatment that creates energy in the form of electricity or heat from a waste source that would have been disposed of in landfill, also called energy recovery. ... Anaerobic digestion component of Lübeck mechanical biological treatment plant in Germany, 2007 Anaerobic digestion is a process in which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. ... For other forms of waste plant that produce energy see waste-to-energy. ... A microorganism or microbe is an organism that is so small that it is microscopic (invisible to the naked eye). ... Biodegradation is the decomposition of material by microorganisms. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Waste For the company, see Waste Management, Inc. ... Natural gas rig Natural gas (commonly refered to as gas in many countries) is a gaseous fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane. ...

Composting converts biodegradable waste into compost. Anaerobic digestion converts biodegradable waste into several products, including biogas and soil amendment (digestate). Incineration as well as biogas can be used to generate electricity and/or heat for district heating. A handful of compost A double-wide bin with compost at different stages of decomposition Compost is the aerobically decomposed remnants of organic materials. ... Biogas-bus in Bern, Switzerland Biogas typically refers to a (biofuel) gas produced by the anaerobic digestion or fermentation of organic matter including manure, sewage sludge, municipal solid waste, biodegradable waste or any other biodegradable feedstock, under anaerobic conditions. ... Acidogenic digestate produced from mixed municipal waste Digestate is solid material remaining after the anaerobic digestion of a biodegradable feedstock. ... For delivered electrical power, see Electrical power industry. ... District heating pipe in Tübingen, Germany District heating (less commonly called teleheating) is a system for distributing heat generated in a centralized location for residential and commercial heating requirements. ...

Biodegradable waste and global warming

Biodegradable waste is an important substance due to its links with global warming. When it is disposed of in landfills, it breaks down under uncontrolled anaerobic conditions. This produces landfill gas which, if not harnessed, escapes into the atmosphere. Landfill gas contains methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earths near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation. ... Methane is a chemical compound with the molecular formula . ... Top: Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels as measured in the atmosphere and ice cores. ... Carbon dioxide (chemical formula: ) is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom. ...

The European Union Landfill Directive puts key requirements on member states for the management of biodegradable waste in order to stop global warming. The Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) is legislation issued by the European Union to be implemented by its member states. ...

References

1. ^ Anaerobic digestion http://www.monsal.com, retrieved 18.09.07

See also

• Biodegradability prediction
• Biodegradation
• Biodrying
• Waste types