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#16
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Recycle builders bag for compost container?
"Tumbleweed" wrote in message . .. "Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... In article , (dmc) writes: | In article , Huge wrote: | (dmc) writes: | | Had a couple full of gravel at the bottom of the garden for a few years. | Both have gone very brittle - the one I attempted to empty and move just | crumbled. | | That's not biodegrading. The UV in the sunlight has destroyed them. | | Hmm. Good point. They had turned to dust though. Nasty poisonous dust | maybe No. Polythene and polypropylene break down into harmless chemicals, and I believe that the other ingredients aren't particularly toxic or permanent. | What actually has to happen to something in order for it to have "biodegraded"? | Break down into component chemicals? To have broken down as result of biological action. Indeed. So something that is biodegradeable may break down to harmful chemicals, whilst something that is inert (and thus not biodegradable), for example glass, may have no effect on the environment (after its manufacture). Usually (always?) there is an implicit 'its a good thing' associated with the word biodegradeable, for no good reason AFAICS. Biodegradation is being eaten by bugs, worms fungi etc. It is not breaking down into harmful chemicals. Although I've never seen a chemical analysis of worm dung. :-)) Steve |
#17
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Recycle builders bag for compost container?
In article ,
shazzbat wrote: "Tumbleweed" wrote in message ... Usually (always?) there is an implicit 'its a good thing' associated with the word biodegradeable, for no good reason AFAICS. Biodegradation is being eaten by bugs, worms fungi etc. It is not breaking down into harmful chemicals. Although I've never seen a chemical analysis of worm dung. :-)) While some results of biodegradation can be harmful (e.g. "red tide"), it isn't all that common. There are actually very good reasons to regard biodegradability as "a good thing". Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#18
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Recycle builders bag for compost container?
"..........These bag things are supposed to bio-degrade, so only a solution
for a year or so ............" They are not Bio degradable, it's the Ultra Violet (UV) light that breaks down the white plastic they are made of. If the sunlight is kept off them they will last 5 or 6 years. For your stakes I would get the heavy grade of Roof batons, they have the advantage of being tanalised as well and should last 3 or 4 years. I use these bags for the debris from the shredder and leave it in the bags for 6 months or so to start breaking down, works well, and you don't need to make drainage holes as the water gets out of the woven fabric quite easily, and if you have any doubts, try putting a hose into an empty bag and see if you can fill it with water. -- David Hill Abacus nurseries www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk |
#19
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Recycle builders bag for compost container?
"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... In article , shazzbat wrote: "Tumbleweed" wrote in message ... Usually (always?) there is an implicit 'its a good thing' associated with the word biodegradeable, for no good reason AFAICS. Biodegradation is being eaten by bugs, worms fungi etc. It is not breaking down into harmful chemicals. Although I've never seen a chemical analysis of worm dung. :-)) While some results of biodegradation can be harmful (e.g. "red tide"), it isn't all that common. There are actually very good reasons to regard biodegradability as "a good thing". What about biodegradation leading to over-fertilisation and resulting problems such as eutrophication? Isnt that what can happen with biodegradation of detergents for example? However, the core point is that any biodegradation involves an interaction with the environment; whether you regard that interaction as positive or negative probably depends on your individual POV rather than any objective criteria. -- Tumbleweed Remove my socks for email address |
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