Insects and Microorganisms in Landfills

The smell of trash left in a garbage can for a few days is an incredibly attractive smell....to a fly.
Why? They feed on decomposing trash and lay eggs so that they may feed on it, as well, during their developmental stages.

Landfills, then, are veritable havens for insects and microorganisms to feed and thrive. But do they help or hurt the ecosystem of a landfill? "The waste decomposition role of small soil insects is of high importance in the breakdown of solid organic materials. They consume large quantities of materials to compensate for poor food quality and produce relatively large amounts of wastes."
These wastes, along with decaying organic material are a food source or other insects and microorganisms, like bacteria and fungi. Worms, particularly red worms, is a species of earthworm adapted to decaying organic material. These worms thrive in rotting vegetation and decaying materials that would otherwise be prefect for a compost heap. In fact, according to texasredworms.com, "more than half of U.S. trash could be fed to red worms."

The "rate of decomposition depends on the temperature, moisture and chemical composition of the organic matter. If the temperature is too low, or too high, fungi and bacteria cannot grow and the rate of decomposition is slow. If the leaves have a low nitrogen content, the rate of decomposition is slowed because fungi and bacteria can not extract enough nitrogen to make proteins they need for growth. The oxygen level is another important factor, since fungi require oxygen for growth. In lakes and other low oxygen environments, fungal growth will be slower and thus decomposition will be slow.

If decomposition could not occur, the nitrogen in dead organic matter would remain locked up. Plant growth would decrease over time as the nitrogen the plants took from the soil was not replaced. By understanding the factors controlling decomposition we can protect our food supply, and increase plant growth.

Fungi and bacteria are not restricted to decomposing leaves and other plant materials. They will decompose any dead organic matter, whether it is a cardboard box, paint, glue, pair of jeans, a leather jacket or jet fuel....made from petroleum, which is made of decomposed microscopic creatures from the oceans of the Mesozoic Era"

The necessary process of decomposition runs rampant in landfills, allowing for new growth and a thriving ecosystem. For more information on waste and recycling options visit www.wasteawaygroup.com.

usu.edu
epa.gov
wikipedia.org
texasredworms.com