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#16
23-04-2004, 06:04 PM
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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 |
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