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Which of the following materials is likely to be non-biodegradable?
Paper
Plastic
Vegetable peels
Wood
Plastic
Plastic is a synthetic polymeric material that cannot be broken down naturally by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, making it non-biodegradable. In contrast, paper, vegetable peels, and wood are organic materials that readily decompose through biological processes.
Plastic is a synthetic polymeric material that cannot be broken down naturally by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, making it non-biodegradable. In contrast, paper, vegetable peels, and wood are organic materials that readily decompose through biological processes.
Think of biological enzymes as specialized keys designed for biological locks. Organic items like vegetable peels or paper have 'locks' that microbes can easily open and break down. Plastic is like an artificial alloy lock for which nature has no key, leaving it intact and unchanged for centuries.
P-O-P: Polymeric Plastic Persists (Non-biodegradable), Organic Plant-based Products (Paper, Peels, Wood) Decay.
Biodegradable substances are broken down into simple inorganic molecules like water, carbon dioxide, and methane by micro-organisms using specific enzymes. Plastics consist of long, highly stable synthetic carbon-chain polymers (such as polyethylene) with strong covalent bonds. Decomposers lack the specific enzymes required to cleave these synthetic chemical bonds, causing plastics to persist in the environment for hundreds of years.
Plastic polymers like Polyethylene, PVC, and Nylon are chemically inert to biological degradation.
Biodegradable wastes are natural organic substances derived from plant or animal sources.
Non-biodegradable materials accumulate in ecosystems, causing biomagnification and environmental pollution.
| Feature | Biodegradable Waste | Non-Biodegradable Waste |
|---|---|---|
Source / Origin | Natural plant/animal origin (e.g., paper, peels, wood) | Synthetic man-made chemical origin (e.g., plastics, glass) |
Decomposition Process | Rapidly degraded by bacteria and fungi | Extremely slow or no natural biological breakdown |
Environmental Impact | Recycles nutrients into the soil ecosystem | Causes soil/water toxicity, chokes drains, bioaccumulates |
Option A (Paper): Made of cellulose derived from plants; degrades in a few weeks.
Option C (Vegetable peels): Kitchen organic waste; degrades in a few days to weeks.
Option D (Wood): Natural plant matter composed of cellulose and lignin; slowly degrades naturally over time.
B is correct тАФ Plastic is a synthetic material that lacks biological pathways for microbial breakdown, making it non-biodegradable.
Questions on environmental science in state PSCs and SSC exams often test degradation timeframes; remember that cellulose-based products (paper, cotton, wood) are always biodegradable, whereas petroleum-based polymers (plastics, synthetic rubber) are non-biodegradable.
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