![]() Aerobic decomposition happens anywhere oxygen is present – on the forest floor, in a backyard compost pile, etc. That means the little microbes that eat your food waste need oxygen to survive. Composting – the process of turning organic material into nutrient-rich soil – relies on aerobic decomposition. In fact, excavations of landfills have uncovered newspapers still legible after 40 years, 25 year-old heads of lettuce in near pristine condition, and decades old packs of hot dogs ready for the grill. Landfills are designed to bury trash – not to break it down. This is not an ideal environment for biodegradation, and that’s exactly how landfills are supposed to work. There’s not a lot of air, there’s certainly no sunlight, and there’s little moisture. And now, you’re covered in a layer of soil. A huge tractor has run back and forth over you so many times you’ve lost count you’re squished by all the garbage around you. You, bruised little banana peel, have had quite the day. And every day, it’s covered with a layer of soil. ![]() ![]() Space is a precious commodity in a landfill – the more space there is, the longer the landfill lasts! So to save as much space as possible, the trash is compacted by heavy machinery. When garbage trucks arrive at the landfill, they empty their loads into the active cell. Smaller openings, called cells, are filled one at a time. Trash isn’t spread across the entire landfill space all at once. Torn away from the fruit you once protected, you’ve just made your way to the local landfill. Take a moment and imagine you’re a banana peel. But what’s the truth? To find out the answer, let’s chat some landfill basics and what causes biodegradable materials to, well, biodegrade. What an excellent question, Maggie! You’re not alone in thinking that it’s beneficial for items to break down in landfills. But doesn’t the food I throw away break down in the landfill anyway? – Maggie, Keystone Dear Eartha, I have a friend who tells me I should compost my food waste.
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