Home and Earth

Where We Live and Grow

A Tips and Information Site For Making Our Home and Earth A Better Place To Live

A

B

bacteria

Bacteria are important in recycling biodegradable material.

biodegradable

Material that is able to decompose naturally due to the action of bacteria.

biodegradable waste

Waste coming from plant or animal sources broken down by living organisms.

biosolids

The nutrient-rich organic materials produced by recycling treated sewage sludge. Biosolids are used as fertilizer to improve soils and stimulate plant growth.

brownfields

Abandoned or under-used land that is contaminated with harmful chemicals or biological pathogens, which make the area unsafe and uninhabitable.

C

carbon dioxide

A colorless and odorless gas formed during respiration and combustion. It is absorbed from the air by plants during photosynthesis.

clean

A recyclable material that doesn't have anything attached to it. Copper, aluminum and brass are clean and worth more money if you take off any glass, plastic or other metal that may be on it.

conserve

To keep or to use something sparingly, so it can be used later.

D

data

Computer data is information processed or stored on a computer's hard drive. Data is stored in files and folders.

Types of data:

• text documents
• images
• audio
• software programs

deforestation

Destroying a forest and replacing it with something else.

E

erase

Computer terminology for remove. You can erase entire files or folders from your hard drive. Erase is not the same as delete. When data is deleted, it is still there until it is written over. Special programs are used to write over data one or more times.

F

fossil fuel

Any carbon-containing fuel derived from the decomposed remains of prehistoric plants and animals. Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are fossil fuels.

G

H

hazardous

Potentially dangerous to people or the environment.

I

J

K

L

landfill

A landfill is a site for the disposal of our waste into an open hole in the ground where it is buried.

M

methane

A colorless odorless gas used as a fuel. Methane is generated by the fermentation of organic matter.

N

O

organically made products

Products that have come from a once-living organism and is capable of decay. The definition of organic matter varies upon the subject it is being used for.

P

pollute

To make something or somewhere unclean or unhealthy for the environment and people.

post-consumer material or waste

Used recyclable materials, such as empty plastic bottles and aluminum cans, that go into the trash.

Q

R

recycle

To process old and used waste material so it can be used again to make something new. Aluminum cans, copper, glass bottles, paper and plastic are commonly recycled material.

Recyclable material:

• aluminum
• batteries
• brass
• cardboard
• copper
• glass
• iron
• newspaper
• paint
• paper
• plastic
• used motor and filters

reduce

Use less of something.

re-refined

Reconditioned, cleaned and treated so it can be used again.

reuse

To use something again.

S

scrap

A piece of something that is left over after the rest has been used.

T

toxic

A chemical or substance that is harmful or deadly.

U

V

W

waste

Materials that are used, old, left over from processing new materials or rejected as worthless or unwanted.

X

Y

Z