Green Glossary: "Biodegradable"
Throwing anything out the car window isn’t a great idea. But if something is going to get tossed, an apple core is a significantly better choice than a plastic water bottle, a calculator or an iPod.
Here’s why: That apple core is made of organic material, which means that it will begin to break down or decompose naturally when it lands on the ground -- eventually being reabsorbed by the soil. In the interest of limiting the amount of waste that clogs our landfills, some companies are beginning to manufacture items like disposable plates and product packaging from biodegradable materials. Non-biodegradable items -- like that iPod and water bottle -- need to be recycled or reused in the appropriate way to eliminate waste from landfills and make the most of the planet’s resources.
