Q&A for How to Recycle Biodegradable Waste

First, you need to know if the waste is consistently non-hazardous. Second, you need to know what form it's in: solid, semi-solid, or liquid. Third, you need to know if the waste has any calorific value. Once these things are known, you need to find appropriate channel to harness the energy from it. (For example, the incineration of solid waste generates heat.)

You can know the composition of non-biodegradable substances and compounds by using chemical testing or carbon dating. Also, try chemical journals and encyclopedias.

The best way to do this is to get biodegrading organisms (usually bacteria) and introduce these organisms to a large aeration tank with biodegradable waste (usually in liquid form). You need to keep the tank aerated using surface or bubble aerators to keep the dissolved oxygen around 2.0 mg/L.

Non-biodegradable is waste that doesn't readily break down naturally over time, thus contributing to pollution for decades into the future.

Plastic takes about 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill. A plastic bag takes about 10-20 years to decompose, and a plastic bottle takes about 450 years to decompose. Plastic isn't good for the environment, so avoid using it as much as you can. Avoid plastic straws, instead get reusable or decomposable ones, get a reusable drinking bottle, avoid plastic bags, and get everything reusable as much as possible. If you do have to use plastic, remember to recycle it after use.