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."

Which Cities Have the Highest Recycling Rates...and Why?

Since the emergence of recycling, there have been several advancements, innovations, and
improvements in the industry. There have also been court rulings, city ordinances, and even state laws making recycling mandatory.

This may account for high rates of recycling in some areas. It does not, however, explain why the 5 cities with the highest recycling rates are on the West coast. The top five cities are as follows:

What Role Does the Weather Play In the Decomposition Process?

Decomposition of organic material is basically the breakdown of the material as it rots and decays. There are two basic types of decomposition: aerobic and anaerobic.

Aerobic decomposition utilizes oxygen in the breakdown of organic material such as in the process of composting. Anaerobic digestion, also called fermentation, is the breakdown of organic matter completely absent of the presence of oxygen, as in the creation of biogas and biofuel.

Weather plays a huge part in the decomposition process. Arid conditions drastically affect the rate at which organic material breaks down.