Question

Which of the following is non-biodegradable?
A. Tea leaves
B. Nylon
C. Remains of animals
D. Fleece of sheep

Answer 1

Hint:- The leaves of tea contain tannic acid and nutrients that act as natural fertilizers for a garden. As the leaves decompose, they release nutrients into the soil, which helps in retaining water in the garden.

Complete step-by-step solution:-
Biodegradable waste is the organic matter which can be broken down in a natural manner. Natural agents such as microorganisms, sunlight, water, and ozone turn the organic matter into organic manure with the help of decomposition. These substances are non-toxic to the environment and consist of natural materials. For example:- flowers, plants, animals, water, paper, fruits and vegetables are good examples of biodegradable waste.It can be transformed into a simpler form and can be used as fertilizers, manure, biogas, compost and more because of this it is eco-friendly to the environment. Non-biodegradable waste is the material that cannot break down easily with the natural agents. These materials are harmful to our environment when they stay for a long period and do not get decomposed. Non-biodegradable waste does not decompose or dissolve, it just transforms into solid waste which is a great threat to the environment and health so it’s better to recycle and reuse them. Plastics, chemicals, rubber, batteries, paints and metals are examples of non- biodegradable wastes. These substances are not eco-friendly and we should avoid using them. Biodegradable materials are considered very beneficial to the environment because of natural decomposition and are eco-friendly, whereas non-biodegradable material does not decompose or the process of decomposition is very slow so it is harmful to the environment. It is better to use biodegradable materials to save the environment and the best way to save the environment from getting more damaged is to reuse or recycle non-biodegradable materials.
So, option B is the correct answer. Nylon is a non-biodegradable material that does not get decomposed.

Note:- The microorganisms like bacteria and fungi secrete the extracellular enzymes which help in the decomposition of remains of plants and animals as well as the fleece of sheep. The biodegradable wastes can also degrade by abiotic factors like temperature, oxygen, UV rays etc. The non-biodegradable wastes that can be recycled are known as recyclable waste like recycling of paper.