also breaks down into inorganic compounds. the process for composting is more specifically defined, as it is controlled by humans. essentially, composting is an accelerated biodegradation process due to optimized circumstances. additionally, the end product of composting not only returns to its previous state, but also generates and adds beneficial microorganisms to the soil called humus. this organic matter can be used in gardens and on farms to help grow healthier plants in the future. composting more consistently occurs within a shorter time frame since it is a more defined process and is expedited by human intervention. biodegradation can occur in different time frames under different circumstances, but is meant to occur naturally without human intervention. this figure represents the different paths of disposal for organic waste. even within composting, there are different circumstances under which this can occur. the two main types of composting are at-home versus commercial. both produce healthy soil to be reused - the main difference lies in what materials are able to go into the process. at-home composting is mostly used for food scraps and excess garden materials, such as weeds. commercial composting is capable of breaking down more complex plant-based products, such as corn-based plastics and larger pieces of material, like tree branches. commercial composting begins with a manual breakdown of the materials using a grinder or other machine to initiate the process. because at-home composting usually occurs on a smaller scale and does not involve large machinery, these materials would not fully decompose in at-home composting. furthermore, one study has compared and contrasted home and industrial composting, concluding that there are advantages and disadvantages to both. the following studies provide examples in which composting has been defined as a subset of biodegradation in a scientific context. the first study, "assessment of biodegradability of plastics under simulated composting conditions in a laboratory test setting," clearly examines composting as a set of circumstances that falls under the category of degradation. additionally, this next study looked at the biodegradation and composting effects of chemically and physically crosslinked polylactic acid. notably discussing composting and biodegrading as two distinct terms. the third and final study reviews european standardization of biodegradable and compostable material in the packaging industry, again using the terms separately. the distinction between these terms is crucial because waste management confusion leads to improper disposal of materials by people on a daily basis. biodegradation technology has led to massive improvements in how we dispose of waste; there now exist trash, recycling, and compost bins in order to optimize the disposal process. however, if these waste streams are commonly and frequently confused, then the disposal process is not at all optimized. biodegradable and compostable materials have been developed to ensure more of human waste is able to breakdown and return to its previous state, or in the case of composting even add nutrients to the ground. when a compostable product is thrown out as opposed to composted and sent to a landfill, these inventions and efforts are wasted. therefore, it is important for citizens to understand the difference between these terms so that materials can be disposed of properly and efficiently. environmental and social effects plastic pollution from illegal dumping poses health risks to wildlife. animals often mistake plastics for food, resulting in intestinal entanglement. slow-degrading chemicals, like polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs), nonylphenol (np), and pesticides also found in plastics, can release into environments and subsequently also be ingested by wildlife. these chemicals also play a role in human health, as consumption of tainted food (in processes called biomagnification and bioaccumulation) has been linked to issues such as cancers, neurological dysfunction, and hormonal changes. a well-known example of biomagnification impacting health in recent times is the increased exposure to dangerously high levels of mercury in fish, which can affect sex hormones in humans. in efforts to remediate the damages done by slow-degrading plastics, detergents, metals, and other pollutants created by humans, economic costs have become a concern. marine litter in particular is notably difficult to quantify and review. researchers at the world trade institute estimate that cleanup initiatives' cost (specifically in ocean ecosystems) has hit close to thirteen billion dollars a year. the main concern stems from marine environments, with the biggest cleanup efforts centering around garbage patches in the ocean. in 2017, a garbage patch the size of mexico was found in the pacific ocean. it is estimated to be upwards of a million square miles in size. while the patch contains more obvious examples of litter (plastic bottles, cans, and bags), tiny microplastics are nearly impossible to clean up. national geographic reports that even more non-biodegradable materials are finding their way into vulnerable environments - nearly thirty-eight million pieces a year. materials that have not degraded can also serve as shelter for invasive species, such as tube worms and barnacles. when the ecosystem changes in response to the invasive species, resident species and the natural balance of resources, genetic diversity, and species richness is altered. these factors may support local economies in way of hunting and aquaculture, which suffer in response to the change. similarly, coastal communities which rely heavily on ecotourism lose revenue thanks to a buildup of pollution, as their beaches or shores are no longer desirable to travelers. the world trade institute also notes that the communities who often feel most of the effects of poor biodegradation are poorer countries without the means to pay for their cleanup. in a positive feedback loop effect, they in turn have trouble controlling their own pollution sources. etymology of "biodegradable" the first known use of biodegradable in a biological context was in 1959 when it was employed to describe the breakdown of material into innocuous components by microorganisms. now biodegradable is commonly associated with environmentally friendly products that are part of the earth's innate cycles like the carbon cycle and capable of decomposing back into natural elements.