Gunpreet, Subject Matter Expert at Edumarz
Answer: In our daily life, we create a lot of waste. Some of these substances are biodegradable while some are non-biodegradable.
Biodegradable substances: Substances that can be broken down by microorganisms are called biodegradable substances. These substances break down into simple soluble forms. These substances are eco-friendly because they do not cause any harm to our environment; rather by decomposing they provide the simple inorganic molecules back to the environment. Biodegradable substances consist of kitchen waste such as spoilt food, vegetable and fruit peels, used tea leaves etc. Other than this waste paper, tree leaves, different plant parts etc. are also biodegradable substances.
Non-biodegradable substances: These are the substances that cannot be degraded by the microorganisms and they remain in the environment for a very long time. They are not eco-friendly as they harm our environment. For example, plastic. They never broke down by bacteria. Under extreme conditions of heat or pressure, these materials may react but still they persist for a long time.