Final answer:
Decomposers are classified as consumers in ecology because they play a crucial role in recycling nutrients by breaking down dead organic matter and wastes.
Step-by-step explanation:
With regards to ecology, decomposers are classified as consumers. Decomposers, such as fungi and bacteria, play an essential role in ecosystems by breaking down the remains of dead organisms and other wastes. This process releases simple inorganic molecules back into the environment, which producers can then use to create new organic compounds. Decomposers help recycle nutrients in the ecosystem and can be further classified into types such as detritivores and saprotrophs based on the organic matter they decompose. Therefore, in the context of the given options, decomposers are best described as consumers rather than producers, omnivores, or inactive organic matter.