• Abiotic: The non-living components of an environment. (i.e. the sunlight, water, wind and soil).

• Aseptic: Free from germs.

• Away: There is no such place as "away".

• Bacteria: Also called germs. Tiny creatures that have many roles. One of the most important roles for bacteria is that of decomposer.

• Biodegradable: Able to decompose in nature. Able to be broken down or decay. Subject to the action of decomposers.

• Biotic: The living components of an environment; plants and animals.

• By product: Something that is produced during the re of another product.

• Castings: The waste produced by worms that enriches the soil.

• Chemicals: Pure substance with a specific chemical composition. Chemicals may be elements or compounds. Everything is composed of chemicals.

• Compost: The material that results from the decay of organic matter. Often used as fertilizer for lawns and gardens.

• Compounds: Pure substances that are made from more than one element.

• Consumer:
  (1) In nature: any organism that cannot produce its own food.
  (2) In society: anyone that uses what is produced by that society.

• Corrosive: A substance that is capable of dissolving metals.

• Decomposer: Organisms that cause the breakdown and decay of dead plant and animal matter.

• Dump: Old term for "landfill". A place where waste is simply piled and buried without sorting or treatment.

• Elements: Pure substance that contains one type of atom.

• Environment: Natural surroundings including the biotic and the abiotic components.

• Fertilizer: Substances that replace valuable nutrients in soil.

• Flammable: A substance that catches fire easily.

• Fungi: Mushrooms and molds. They are one type of decomposer.

• Garbage: Old term for waste.

• Hazardous: Dangerous or toxic.

• Landfill: A planned and managed waste disposal site.

• Leachate: Liquid waste that seeps from landfilled material. Leachate is quite often toxic and can contaminate ground water.

• Litter: Anything that is not disposed of properly.

• Methane: A greenhouse gas that is produced by decaying matter. There are a number of other sources for methane gas.

• Microscopic: Anything that can't be seen with the naked eye. Bacteria are microscopic.

• Non-renewable: Materials that cannot be recovered after they are used. Most petroleum products are non-renewable as they take millions of years to produce.

• Plastic: A versatile substance produced from petroleum.

• Producer: In nature, an organism that is capable of producing its own food.

• Recover: To get something back that would otherwise be lost.

• Recycle: To reuse material instead of disposing of it in a landfill site.

• Red wigglers: Worms used for composting.

• Renewable: Something that can be replaced. Trees are a good example of a renewable resource.

• Resource: Something of value that is required to live or to manufacture a required item.

• Rethink: To think about using something in a different way than it is normally used.

• Reuse: To use something again rather than send it to the landfill.

• Vermipost: Compost from worms; their castings.

• Waste: Something that cannot be reused or recycled or recovered. A substance that must be sent to the Iandfill as it has no other use.

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