Editing Biodegradation (section)

== Biodegradation vs. composting ==
There is no universal definition for biodegradation and there are various definitions of [[composting]], which has led to much confusion between the terms. They are often lumped together; however, they do not have the same meaning. Biodegradation is the naturally-occurring breakdown of materials by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi or other biological activity.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Gómez|first1=Eddie F.|last2=Michel|first2=Frederick C.|name-list-style=vanc|title=Biodegradability of conventional and bio-based plastics and natural fiber composites during composting, anaerobic digestion and long-term soil incubation|journal=Polymer Degradation and Stability|date=December 2013|volume=98|issue=12|pages=2583–2591|doi=10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2013.09.018}}</ref> Composting is a human-driven process in which biodegradation occurs under a specific set of circumstances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bpiworld.org/Composting|title=Biodegradable Products Institute – Composting|website=bpiworld.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-24|archive-date=2018-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924185940/https://bpiworld.org/Composting|url-status=live}}</ref> The predominant difference between the two is that one process is naturally-occurring and one is human-driven.

Biodegradable material is capable of decomposing without an oxygen source (anaerobically) into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass, but the timeline is not very specifically defined. Similarly, compostable material breaks down into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass; however, compostable material also breaks down into inorganic compounds. The process for composting is more specifically defined, as it is controlled by humans. Essentially, composting is an accelerated biodegradation process due to optimized circumstances.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Magdoff|first=Fred|name-list-style=vanc|date=November 1993|title=Building Soils for Better Crops|journal=Soil Science|volume=156|issue=5|pages=371|doi=10.1097/00010694-199311000-00014|bibcode=1993SoilS.156..371M}}</ref> Additionally, the end product of composting not only returns to its previous state, but also generates and adds beneficial microorganisms to the soil called [[humus]]. This organic matter can be used in gardens and on farms to help grow healthier plants in the future.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.accessscience.com/content/325510|title=Humus|last1=Morris|first1=Schnitzer|last2=Martin|first2=James P.|name-list-style=vanc|journal=AccessScience|doi=10.1036/1097-8542.325510|s2cid=242577363|access-date=2018-09-24|archive-date=2018-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924190705/https://www.accessscience.com/content/325510|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Composting more consistently occurs within a shorter time frame since it is a more defined process and is expedited by human intervention. Biodegradation can occur in different time frames under different circumstances, but is meant to occur naturally without human intervention.
[[File:Organic Waste Disposal Streams.pdf|thumb|This figure represents the different paths of disposal for organic waste.<ref>{{cite book|vauthors=Kranert M, Behnsen A, Schultheis A, Steinbach D|chapter=Composting in the Framework of the EU Landfill Directive|date=2002|title=Microbiology of Composting|pages=473–486|publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg|doi=10.1007/978-3-662-08724-4_39|isbn=9783642087059}}</ref>]]
Even within composting, there are different circumstances under which this can occur. The two main types of composting are at-home versus commercial. Both produce healthy soil to be reused – the main difference lies in what materials are able to go into the process.<ref name=":3" /> At-home composting is mostly used for food scraps and excess garden materials, such as weeds. Commercial composting is capable of breaking down more complex plant-based products, such as corn-based plastics and larger pieces of material, like tree branches. Commercial composting begins with a manual breakdown of the materials using a grinder or other machine to initiate the process. Because at-home composting usually occurs on a smaller scale and does not involve large machinery, these materials would not fully decompose in at-home composting. Furthermore, one study has compared and contrasted home and industrial composting, concluding that there are advantages and disadvantages to both.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Martínez-Blanco J, Colón J, Gabarrell X, Font X, Sánchez A, Artola A, Rieradevall J|title=The use of life cycle assessment for the comparison of biowaste composting at home and full scale|journal=Waste Management|volume=30|issue=6|pages=983–94|date=June 2010|pmid=20211555|doi=10.1016/j.wasman.2010.02.023|bibcode=2010WaMan..30..983M|url=http://ddd.uab.cat/record/163720|type=Submitted manuscript|access-date=2018-09-27|archive-date=2019-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401015646/https://ddd.uab.cat/record/163720|url-status=live}}</ref>

The following studies provide examples in which composting has been defined as a subset of biodegradation in a scientific context. The first study, "Assessment of Biodegradability of Plastics Under Simulated Composting Conditions in a Laboratory Test Setting," clearly examines composting as a set of circumstances that falls under the category of degradation.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Starnecker A, Menner M |date=1996-01-01 |title=Assessment of biodegradability of plastics under simulated composting conditions in a laboratory test system |journal=International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation |volume=37 |issue=1–2 |pages=85–92 |doi=10.1016/0964-8305(95)00089-5 |bibcode=1996IBiBi..37...85S }}</ref> Additionally, this next study looked at the biodegradation and composting effects of chemically and physically crosslinked polylactic acid.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2012-02-01|title=Some composting and biodegradation effects of physically or chemically crosslinked poly(lactic acid)|journal=Polymer Testing|volume=31|issue=1|pages=83–92|doi=10.1016/j.polymertesting.2011.09.012|last1=Żenkiewicz|first1=Marian|last2=Malinowski|first2=Rafał|last3=Rytlewski|first3=Piotr|last4=Richert|first4=Agnieszka|last5=Sikorska|first5=Wanda|last6=Krasowska|first6=Katarzyna|name-list-style=vanc|doi-access=free}}</ref> Notably discussing composting and biodegrading as two distinct terms. The third and final study reviews European standardization of biodegradable and compostable material in the packaging industry, again using the terms separately.<ref>{{Cite journal|vauthors=Avella M, Bonadies E, Martuscelli E, Rimedio R|date=2001-01-01|title=European current standardization for plastic packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation|journal=Polymer Testing|language=en|volume=20|issue=5|pages=517–521|doi=10.1016/S0142-9418(00)00068-4}}</ref>

The distinction between these terms is crucial because [[waste management]] confusion leads to improper disposal of materials by people on a daily basis. Biodegradation technology has led to massive improvements in how we dispose of waste; there now exist trash, recycling, and compost bins in order to optimize the disposal process. However, if these waste streams are commonly and frequently confused, then the disposal process is not at all optimized.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Akullian A, Karp C, Austin K, Durbin D |title=Plastic Bag Externalities and Policy in Rhode Island |url=http://seattlebagtax.org/referencedpdfs/en-akullianetal.pdf |journal=Brown Policy Review |date=2006 |access-date=2018-09-24 |archive-date=2017-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519204013/http://seattlebagtax.org/referencedpdfs/en-akullianetal.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Biodegradable and compostable materials have been developed to ensure more of human waste is able to breakdown and return to its previous state, or in the case of composting even add nutrients to the ground.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Song JH, Murphy RJ, Narayan R, Davies GB |title=Biodegradable and compostable alternatives to conventional plastics |journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences |volume=364 |issue=1526 |pages=2127–39 |date=July 2009 |pmid=19528060 |pmc=2873018 |doi=10.1098/rstb.2008.0289 }}</ref> When a compostable product is thrown out as opposed to composted and sent to a landfill, these inventions and efforts are wasted. Therefore, it is important for citizens to understand the difference between these terms so that materials can be disposed of properly and efficiently.