The natural process involved in recycling waste or breaking down organic matter into nutrients that can be used by other living organisms. Degradation means decay and bio refers to the decay being carried out by living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, insects and worms. These living organisms eat the dead material and recycle it into new forms. In essence, nothing is wasted in nature as everything is recycled. The waste product of one organism becomes food for others. Composting, for example, harnesses the natural forces of biodegradation to clean up some types of environmental waste.