"But as population became denser, the natural chemical and biological recycling processes became overloaded, calling for a redefinition of property rights"

This quote by Garrett Hardin is referring to the effects of population development on the environment. As population density increases, the natural processes of chemical and biological recycling ended up being overloaded and unable to stay up to date with the need. This results in a need for a redefinition of residential or commercial property rights, as the current system of ownership is no longer able to properly handle the resources available. This redefinition of residential or commercial property rights could consist of the introduction of regulations to restrict the amount of resources that can be used, or the execution of taxes to dissuade over-consumption. Ultimately, this quote is a reminder of the importance of managing population growth in order to safeguard the environment.