nonbiodegradable
adjective
non·bio·de·grad·able
ˌnän-ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-di-ˈgrā-də-bəl 
: not capable of being broken down by the action of living organisms : not biodegradable
nonbiodegradable packaging
Examples of nonbiodegradable in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The nonbiodegradable material has been in the crosshairs of environmentalists for decades.
—
Ben Botkin, oregonlive, 5 Apr. 2023
The organization was part of successful pushes to end McDonald’s’ practice of selling nonbiodegradable styrofoam cups, ending chocolate-maker Hershey’s use of GMOs in sugar production and pressuring Apple and Best Buy to improve electronic waste recycling programs.
—Dallas News, 1 Apr. 2022
The fear is such communal events generate food waste and overconsumption and often rely on nonbiodegradable materials for cutlery, plates and serving platters.
—Noorzehra Zaidi, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2023
To aid drainage, place 2 inches of nonbiodegradable packing peanuts or old wine corks in the bottom of the box, and then cover with landscape fabric to prevent soil from seeping out.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Mar. 2023
The practice also avoids the introduction of nonbiodegradable materials — such as concrete or plastic vaults, steel caskets or lacquers — to the atmosphere or land, and forest depletion for wood caskets, Bixby said.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 7 Nov. 2022
Cremation, for example, is an energy-intense process that produces carbon dioxide emissions, while traditional burial uses chemicals to embalm bodies and a nonbiodegradable coffin to store them.
—Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2022
In 2018, Vanuatu decided to ban nonbiodegradable plastic bags, largely based on Dive Against Debris data.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 3 Nov. 2021
Embalming fluid and nonbiodegradable burial materials can pollute the earth.
—Lisa Held, Fortune, 16 May 2022
See More
Ben Botkin, oregonlive, 5 Apr. 2023
The organization was part of successful pushes to end McDonald’s’ practice of selling nonbiodegradable styrofoam cups, ending chocolate-maker Hershey’s use of GMOs in sugar production and pressuring Apple and Best Buy to improve electronic waste recycling programs.
—Dallas News, 1 Apr. 2022
The fear is such communal events generate food waste and overconsumption and often rely on nonbiodegradable materials for cutlery, plates and serving platters.
—Noorzehra Zaidi, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2023
To aid drainage, place 2 inches of nonbiodegradable packing peanuts or old wine corks in the bottom of the box, and then cover with landscape fabric to prevent soil from seeping out.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Mar. 2023
The practice also avoids the introduction of nonbiodegradable materials — such as concrete or plastic vaults, steel caskets or lacquers — to the atmosphere or land, and forest depletion for wood caskets, Bixby said.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 7 Nov. 2022
Cremation, for example, is an energy-intense process that produces carbon dioxide emissions, while traditional burial uses chemicals to embalm bodies and a nonbiodegradable coffin to store them.
—Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2022
In 2018, Vanuatu decided to ban nonbiodegradable plastic bags, largely based on Dive Against Debris data.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 3 Nov. 2021
Embalming fluid and nonbiodegradable burial materials can pollute the earth.
—Lisa Held, Fortune, 16 May 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nonbiodegradable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1963, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near nonbiodegradable
Cite this Entry
“Nonbiodegradable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonbiodegradable. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
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