Glossary
A
- accumulation
- - a collection, gathering or buildup
B
- bacteria
- - microscopic living thing
- biodegradable
- - anything that will decompose
C
- charities
- - groups that collect food, clothing or other to give to the needy
- chemicals
- - a substance with a specific molecular structure - used in chemistry
- compost
- - decomposing plant-life used for fertilizer
D
- decade
- - 10 years
- decay
- - to decompose or rot
- decomposers
- - animals or other organisms which aid the decay process
- degrade
- - to wear down
- density
- - matter that is packed tightly is said to have greater density than matter that is loosely structured
- dismantle
- - take apart
- disposables
- - items that are thrown away after a single use
E
- ecosystem
- - a system formed by the interactions of living organisms with their physical environment in a particular area
F
- fungus
- - mold, mushrooms, and yeast are types of fungus
G
- generate
- - to produce or create
- groundwater
- - the water beneath the surface of the ground; the source of water for wells and springs
H
- hazardous waste
- - garbage that may be harmful to the environment
- humus
- - the top layer of soil, made from decayed plant and animal matter
I
- incineration
- - burning at a high temperature, producing ash
- insecticide
- - poison used to kill insects
L
- landfill
- - place where garbage is buried under the surface of the soil - also called sanitary landfill
M
- medication
- - drugs used to treat or cure disease
- methane gas
- - a “greenhouse gas” that forms when organic matter decomposes
- minerals
- - naturally occurring, non-living solid substances that come from the earth; the raw materials of rocks
N
- non-biodegradable
- - won't decompose or will take thousands of years to do so
- nutrients
- - substances that help plants and animals live and grow
O
- organic
- - coming from living things
- organism
- - anything living
P
- poisonous
- - toxic; able to kill organisms
R
- receptacles
- - containers
- recycle
- - reuse or remake into new
- repurpose
- - find a new use for an item or product that is different from the original purpose
S
- saliva
- - another word for spit
- sanitation engineer
- - a professional who helps maintain public health by ensuring the safe handling of garbage and sewage
- sewage treatment plant
- - a facility where raw sewage is made into usable product and harmful components are removed or neutralized
