Biodegradable Material Identification

A material is considered biodegradable if it can be broken down naturally by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, into simpler components like water, carbon dioxide, and organic matter.

Option Analysis

• Glass: Glass is manufactured from sand and other materials. It does not decompose easily and persists in the environment for extremely long periods, making it non-biodegradable.
• Plants: Plants are organic matter. When they die, microorganisms decompose them naturally, returning nutrients to the soil. Therefore, plants are biodegradable.
• Polythene: Polythene, a type of plastic, is synthetic. It resists natural decomposition processes and can remain in the environment for hundreds of years, making it non-biodegradable.
• Aluminium Cans: Aluminium cans are made from metal. While they can corrode over a very long time, they do not biodegrade into organic matter like plants do. They are considered non-biodegradable in the context of natural organic decomposition.

Conclusion

Based on the analysis, plants are the only option that readily undergoes natural decomposition by microorganisms.