What materials are biodegradable and which ones aren't?

Question

Is styrofoam, glass, banana peels, gum biodegradable, etc.?

Answer 1

Materials that naturally occur, or materials made from natural components are bio-degradable. Compounds that change the molecular structure of the material are not bio-degradable. Man made materials, especially those made from petroleum by products are not.

Banana peels, gum - biodegradable
Glass, Styrofoam - not biodegradable

Glass is, however, recyclable.

Answer 2

Here is a complete list of what makes a material biodegradeable and what they are.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Biodegradable_materials

ALSO:


REUSABLE/RECYCLABLE/BIODEGRADABLE BUILDING MATERIALS

Incorporating reusable/recyclable/biodegradable building materials in your project can reduce waste, pollution, and energy use. Some examples of reusable/recyclable/biodegradable building materials include:

Wood (reusable/recyclable/biodegradable)
Earthen Materials (reusable/biodegradable)
Steel, Aluminum, Iron, Copper (reusable/recyclable)
Bricks (reusable/recyclable)
Concrete (may be crushed and recycled)
Gypsum/Drywall (recyclable, sometimes biodegradeable)
Straw Bale Insulation (biodegradable)
Wool Carpet (biodegradable)
Linoleum Flooring (biodegradable)
Considerations:

Building materials composed of one substance (e.g, steel, concrete, wood, etc.), or that are readily disassembled into individual materials, are generally easiest to reuse or recycle.

Materials composed of many ingredients, such as vinyl siding or wood chipboard are generally not readily reusable, recyclable, or biodegradable.

Evaluate materials carefully. Are they the best choice for the application? Are they durable? Can they be readily disassembled for reuse, recycling, or biodegrading at the end of the useful life of the building?
Benefits of Reusable/Recyclable/Biodegradable Materials

The extraction, manufacture and transport, and disposal of virgin building materials pollutes air and water, depletes resources, and damages natural habitats. Construction and demolition are responsible for roughly 30% of the U.S. solid waste stream and real-world case studies by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority have demonstrated more than 85% of that material, from flooring to roofing to packaging, is reusable or recyclable.

The benefits of reusing/recycling/biodegrading building materials include: reduced landfill waste, reduced embodied energy, aesthetically pleasing materials, and reduced impacts from harvest or mining of virgin materials (e.g., logging old-growth or tropical hardwood trees, mining metals, etc.) Using reusable/recyclable/biodegradable materials supports companies that take the care to make such environmentally preferable products.

On the other hand, be aware that some materials should not be reused, or require remediation. Materials contaminated by hazardous substances such as asbestos and lead paint must be treated and/or disposed of properly. Avoiding materials that will cause future problems is critical to long-term waste reduction, as well as the health of our community and the planet.


This site gets a bit more scientific:
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/Area_of_Interest/Chemistry/Materials_Science/BiocompatibleBiodegradable/Tutorial.html

Answer 3

plastica any kind of plastic is not biodegradable, even glass, aluminun any kind of metal is not biodegradable, and food things made of plants are biodegradable like some fabrics and paper...

Answer 4

go to the landfill and see what is left......this isn't not rocket surgery