Biodegradable Waste Management

Anyone who spends any time at all in the house will inevitably need to throw something away, whether food scraps, cans or paper bags.  So waste management is a key consideration. And of course, when you throw something away, it ends up in the trash eventually. In these days of environmental protection awareness, it would seem reasonable therefore that your trash should be lined with biodegradable trash bags. When is a product biodegradable? Biodegradation is basically the breakdown of organic materials into reusable form (e.g. fertilizing material) by enzymes. Materials are said to be biodegradable if it can break down completely and disappear on its own within one year of its disposal. Biodegradation occurs either aerobically (requiring exposure to oxygen) or anaerobically (without oxygen). Biodegradable trash bags, then, need to be organic in composition; otherwise it will not break down. Also, products purporting to be biodegradable should meet ASTM D6400 specification and certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute. There are many kinds of biodegradable trash bags being offered in the market today. Many biodegradable trash bags, and other types of biodegradable bags as well, are made wholly or in part from organic materials, some a combination or solely of corn, wheat, tapioca and potato starches that contain degradable polymers. Some biodegradable trash bags are said to be inundated with biological microbes that help to biodegrade the product with or without the presence of oxygen. Others have the added feature of being animal and insect repelling, to discourage them from destroying the biodegradable trash bags. In connection with these developments, biodegradable bags for other uses have been developed. Many states in the US require the use of biodegradable bags for shoppers. Aside from biodegradable bags for groceries and shopping, biodegradable bags for dog and other animal wastes and biodegradable bags for consumer products are also available. These biodegradable bags come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and some companies have adapted the technology to produce biodegradable disposable diapers. Biodegradable disposable diapers are also another household mainstay. Conventional diapers are notoriously environmentally toxic, typically taking 500 years to dissolve. Just as effective as conventional diapers, biodegradable disposable diapers are usually made without chemicals and with materials designed to break down much more quickly, some claims for as little as 180 days. Some are made from unbleached wood pulp from sustainable forests. Many biodegradable disposable diapers make use of a washable cloth outer layer so it can be reused, which makes them one of the affordable green products.   It should be noted, however, that biodegradable trash bags and other biodegradable bags and products such as biodegradable disposable diapers are often more expensive than conventional products. Although affordable green products, that is, environmentally-friendly, can be had with a little ingenuity. Recycling is one way maintain affordable green products. Many of the biodegradable trash bags and biodegradable bags are reusable because they are made stronger and thicker. Another way to have affordable green products at home is to use natural cleaning products. These natural cleaning products are already available in a typical household. They include vinegar, lemon juice, salt, mineral oil, baking soda and borax to name a few.   These natural cleaning products are used as all purpose-cleaners safe for most surfaces, abrasive cleaners and deodorizers for those hard to clean surfaces, fabric softeners, brass, copper and furniture polishers. As affordable green products, these natural cleaning products can be had for a fraction of the price of commercial products and are easily obtainable in any corner store or produce market. Natural cleaning products also make it easier for water purification because they can be more easily filtered out than conventional cleaning residues.