The present invention provides smooth and adequate recording/reproducing on a recording medium employing a biodegradable material as a substrate material. The present invention relates to storing on a recording medium, information, structure, or the like indicating that a substrate is formed of a biodegradable material. When the present invention is applied to CD, CD-R, and CD-RW, identification information indicating a substrate formed of a biodegradable material is included in a free area of TOC data in a lead-in area shown in FIG. 4. An optical disc apparatus reads the identification information to identify whether or not a disc loaded into the apparatus has a substrate of a biodegradable material. When the loaded disc has a substrate of a biodegradable material, the optical disc apparatus: measures a temperature inside a drive; stops a recording/reproducing operation on the disc when the temperature approaches a glass transition temperature of a substrate material; and ejects the disc to outside of the apparatus.