Recipe for Rot

photo of rotting vegetation "Biodegradable" describes a material that can be broken down by living things under the right environmental conditions into simple compounds such as carbon dioxide and water.
Photo courtesy of Rodale Stock Images.



Living Things

  • Bacteria and fungi -- found in the soil and in the air -- begin the work of digesting and consuming biodegradable material. They can consume nearly any organic material.
  • Insects and worms -- hundreds of different types of critters chomp, chew, and break down materials.

    Environmental Conditions

  • Availability of oxygen. Some microbes require oxygen ("aerobic" decomposition) and some microbes don't require oxygen ("anaerobic" decomposition).
  • Amount of moisture. Without moisture, little decomposition can take place (the situation in most landfills).
  • Temperature. Mesophilic microbes thrive in temperatures of 50° - 113° F (10° - 45° C), while higher temperatures increase the activity of thermophilic microbes.

    activity icon Activity: Homemade Terrarium


    Back Rotten Truth home Next

    © The Rotten Truth web site was created in 1998 by the Association of Science-Technology Centers Incorporated and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. All rights reserved.
    Disclaimer: Rotten Truth (About Garbage) links to a number of activities and resources provided by institutions other than ASTC and SITES. Every effort has been made to ensure that these links are accurate, but because neither ASTC nor SITES controls the content of these web sites, outside links are not guaranteed to be correct or active. Neither ASTC nor SITES shall be liable in the event of incidental or consequential damages connected with, or arising out of, providing the information offered here. External sites are not endorsed by ASTC or the Smithsonian Institution.