biodegradable material
nounUK /ˌbaɪ.əʊ.dɪˈɡreɪ.də.bəl məˈtɪə.ri.əl/
US /ˌbaɪ.oʊ.dɪˈɡreɪ.də.bəl məˈtɪr.i.əl/
A biodegradable material is something that nature can break down and turn back into soil.
We put the banana peel in the compost bin because it is a biodegradable material.
SYNONYMS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A material that breaks down safely through the action of living things like bacteria or fungi.
Scientists tested the biodegradable material to see how fast microbes would break it down.
3. A product or packaging designed to rot away instead of staying in a landfill for years.
The café switched to biodegradable material for its cups and forks.
4. Any substance that can return to the earth without harming the environment.
Leaves and food scraps are biodegradable materials that enrich the garden soil.