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Ecology
Every day we see abandoned bottles, food leftovers, plastic bags, paper and plastic cups, and other trash that was just left on the street.
Sometimes it seems to us that in another day it will be removed, and in the landfill it will begin to decompose.
But, firstly, not everywhere the garbage is removed in a timely manner, and secondly, some garbage can decompose for thousands of years.
How long does garbage take to decompose?
Scientists have already proven that plastic bottles and bags can lie for hundreds, thousands and even millions of years and not decompose.
Here is a list of the things we throw away and how long it takes for that garbage to decompose.
Paper and food waste
2 weeks
Apple cores and other fruit leftovers.
Although this is a fairly short time to decompose, leftover food on the ground can attract unwanted "friends" such as rats.
About 1 month
Paper napkins, paper bags, newspapers, paper towels.
The time it takes these things to decompose can vary greatly, as it depends on how you got rid of that type of trash.
6 weeks
Cereal boxes, paper bags, banana peels.
Banana peel may take longer to decompose if the weather is cooler. Since the peel is designed to keep the fruit fresh, it is high in cellulose, the same material that plastic bags are made from.
Some conservationists warn that the skins of some fruits, including banana peels, can take months to decompose. Even if the product is natural, this does not mean that it decomposes quickly.
2 to 3 months
Cardboard packaging for milk and juices, and other types of cardboard.
The decomposition time of the cardboard primarily depends on its thickness. It is worth noting that some cartons may contain chemicals that significantly slow down the decomposition process.
6 months
Cotton clothes and paper books.
Of all types of fabrics, cotton decomposes the fastest because it is natural. If the cotton fabric thrown into the landfill is rather thin, then in warm weather it can decompose in just a week.
1 year
Woolen clothes (sweaters, socks).
Wool is a natural product and can decompose relatively quickly. What's more, as wool decomposes, it releases soil-friendly elements such as keratins. This product cannot be called completely garbage, as it does not cause long-term harm to the environment.
2 years
Orange peel, plywood, cigarette butts (although some studies indicate that cigarette butts can take over 10 years to decompose).
Up to 5 years
Heavy clothing made of wool, such as a coat or overcoat.
plastic trash
Up to 20 years old
Plastic bags. But studies show that in some cases, plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to decompose.
Many new plastic bags are designed to degrade quickly when exposed to direct sunlight.
However, most plastic bags are made from polyethylene. high density. Microorganisms in the ground do not perceive the chemicals that make up the bag as food, and therefore they do not participate in its decomposition.
30-40 years old
Products containing nylon: bodysuits, windbreakers, carpets, diapers. Some scientists believe that such goods can take up to 500 years to decompose, depending on environmental conditions.
While diapers are quite comfortable, they are also quite toxic, even if you haven't used them yet. They are processed with a variety of chemicals such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and dipentene, as well as a chemical called dioxin, which is a highly toxic carcinogen.
Metal debris, rubber, leather
50 years
Tin cans, car tires, Styrofoam cups, leather.
The skin may be chemically treated (as in the case of the elements fashion clothes) and can take much longer to decompose.
The thick leather used to make shoes can take up to 80 years to decompose.
Decomposition of polyethylene
70 to 80 years old
Rustling plastic bags (from chips and packaging, for example).
Despite the fact that a person eats the contents of a bag of chips very quickly, the bags themselves decompose for a long time. For example, one US resident found an empty bag of crisps on a Devon beach, dated 1967, but the bag itself looked like it had been thrown away last week.
About 100 years
Polyethylene products.
Of course, the decomposition time depends on the density and structure of the product. For example, ordinary plastic shopping bags can take up to 100 years to decompose.
It is worth noting that small parts made of polyethylene can be dangerous for animals that can choke on them.
Aluminum decomposition
About 200 years
Aluminum cans (from beer or soda, for example).
In this case, everything also depends on the density of the material and its structure. In the best case, such objects decompose for 200 years, but this process can drag on for half a millennium.
It is worth noting that, like plastic products, such items are dangerous for small animals that can climb into an empty jar and get stuck in it.
Such cans can be recycled many times and this process requires much less energy than creating a new can. Using the same amount of energy, you can make 20 recycled cans or 1 new aluminum can.
Recycling aluminum cans
Plastic decomposition
500 years
Plastic bottles.
In general, petrochemical products such as plastic bottles never completely decompose and the chemical elements simply remain in the ground.
Waste recycling
Most plastic bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate, which is almost impossible to break down in any amount of time. This means that people have to recycle them, and some countries are actively doing this, creating synthetic fibers that are used to make clothes, carpets and other things.
Clothes made from plastic bottles
glass decomposition
1 to 2 million years
Glass jars and bottles
Goods made of glass can even be stored forever, because glass, created in lava flows millions of years ago, is still there.
Basically, glass consists of quartz, or rather quartz sand (SiO2) - one of the most stable and durable minerals on our planet.
The only problem with glass is that it shatters and the pieces become dangerous to animals, who might mistake them for food.
Long-term waste decomposition
Over 2 million years
Batteries
Although the thin metal shell of batteries decomposes relatively quickly, toxic chemical substances inside (zinc chloride, lead, mercury, cadmium) are absorbed into the ground.
Therefore, batteries should not just be thrown away, but recycled.
Battery recycling in Russia
The development of civilization has brought many useful fruits to our society. The development of technology, scientific discoveries, original research in various fields have greatly facilitated and extended human life, made it more enjoyable and interesting. But along with the convenience of using new materials that have appeared, the problem of their disposal has also arisen.
Such simple but dangerous packaging
Cellophane, polyethylene, plastic - these packaging materials literally filled our lives, and firmly entered the everyday life of every family. Accordingly, these materials are thrown into a bucket of garbage, later falling into garbage containers, so they belong to the category of solid household waste(MSW).
We don't even think about the huge amount of slowly decomposing waste that we produce every day, just throwing once-used bags in the trash. Meanwhile, product packaging accounts for approximately 40% of all waste on the entire planet! Impressive number, isn't it?
It would seem that a thin plastic bag or plastic container looks quite harmless, because they can be torn so easily. In fact, the same plastic bottle It takes about 100 years to decompose, and plastic film takes even more - as much as 200 years. A considerable period of natural decomposition for foil is at least 100 years, the same time is needed for nature in order to get rid of rubber tires.
If nothing is done with the MSW that accumulates daily in homes, offices and enterprises, then soon the world can easily become mired in the waste of civilization. That is why the work of waste processing enterprises and specialized companies involved in the collection, timely removal and proper disposal is so important. various types waste, including MSW. It is such an enterprise that our company Clean World LLC is, we carefully take care of the safety environment and professionally perform our duties, utilizing waste according to the latest technologies and in designated areas.
How long does the garbage disappear?
As we have already found out, polyethylene products decompose for a very long time. And what would happen if the garbage was never taken out, but simply left to rot on the streets? The consequences would be horrendous, because even the most harmless at first glance things without proper disposal can cause a serious blow to the environment.
Approximate times for the decomposition of some types of waste are as follows:
- up to 1 month decompose food waste, paper towels and bags, banana peel, animal droppings, newspapers;
- approximately 1-2 years must pass for smoldering cardboard boxes, things made from natural fabrics, ropes, woolen socks, leaves and branches;
- about 10 years will have to wait for the decomposition of wooden boards and large branches, iron cans and fittings, cigarette butts and milk cartons;
- Approximately 50 years will pass until foam products, leather shoes or synthetic clothing disintegrate;
- for at least 100 years, in addition to the above wrapping materials, tin cans, electric batteries, car batteries, fragments of concrete and bricks, as well as metal products decompose;
- as much as 500 years it is necessary to wait for the decay of aluminum cans and disposable diapers;
- the longest, up to 1000 years, ordinary glass decomposes, so you should think before breaking a bottle on the beach or in the city.
A clean city is the task of every citizen
So what can we do to reduce the amount of trash on the streets that needs such a long period of time to finally decay?
The most important thing is to try to minimize the amount of waste produced. Owners of enterprises and industries, where the size of the daily formed garbage heaps reach significant sizes, in no case should simply take out solid waste to the nearest landfill (often unauthorized). Responsible people who care about the environment and the health of others have long used the services of waste recycling companies. Clean World LLC provides just such services in the city of St. Petersburg, we take care of the solid waste entrusted to us from beginning to end. Our customers do not have to worry about the reliability of waste disposal. The quality of work of Chisty Mir LLC is ensured by experienced and hardworking employees who know their task perfectly, as well as the availability of new specialized equipment that can cope with any amount of work.
In order for the special services involved in garbage collection to cope with their work more effectively, each person must take a responsible attitude to the problem of waste accumulation. After all, it’s not at all difficult not to throw the candy bar wrapper on the ground, but to bring it to the trash, not to trample the cigarette butt into the dust with your heel, but to throw it into the nearest bin.
Unfortunately, rubbish pollutes not only the land, but also water bodies. In many Asian countries some rivers are more like sewers with plastic bottles floating on the surface, and an unpleasant smell from water artery extends for many meters around.
So that the beautiful rivers of our country do not turn into such rotting reservoirs, you do not need to throw plastic, glass and tin containers into the water. Don't leave trash on the beach either. Shards from broken glass bottles are especially dangerous. Not only will it take almost a millennium before the glass disappears, other people can also get hurt on the sharp edges of the fragments, often inquisitive children become victims of previously broken containers. If you went on a picnic, take away all the remnants of the feast, and then surrounding nature will remain clean and untouched, and will delight hundreds more people with its blooming appearance.
Chisty Mir LLC stands guard over the cleanliness of St. Petersburg, and the professional skills of its team can be confirmed by the presence of all permits to work with MSW and other types of waste of human civilization.
Do you know how many years plastic, paper, food waste or diapers decompose, without which it is difficult for a young mother to imagine life today? Look at these waste decomposition times and you will understand why we need to not only learn, but also reduce the consumption of products that produce waste.
Let's see how long it takes for different types of garbage to decompose. Of course, it should also be taken into account that the time of waste decomposition may depend on the conditions at the landfills.
We also recall the shocking photo project by American photographer Greg Segal, which can be viewed here to see how much waste one family produces per week.
How long does plastic decompose
Plastic products are very common in our modern life. It is estimated that every year we use about 1.6 million barrels of oil just to produce plastic water bottles. plastic waste are one of the many types of waste that take too long to decompose.
As a rule, the terms of decomposition of plastic products can reach 1 thousand years. At the same time, plastic bags, which we often use in our daily life, can decompose from 100 to 1 thousand years, and plastic bottles - from 450 years or more.
How long does a diaper decompose
How long does it take for an aluminum can to decompose?
Every minute, every day, more than 120,000 aluminum cans are recycled in America alone.
But, at the same time, so many aluminum cans are thrown out there in three months that would be enough to restore the entire American air fleet.
It will take 80-200 years for aluminum cans to decompose.
How long does glass decompose
As a rule, glass is very easy to recycle, mainly because it is made from a natural material - sand. By melting glass products, we can produce new glass.
But the shocking fact is that if glass is thrown into landfills, it will take a million years to decompose. And according to other data, glass does not decompose at all in nature.
How long does paper decompose
As a rule, the time for which paper decomposes is estimated at 2-6 weeks. But if we recycle waste paper, then we not only save a lot of space in landfills, but also save trees from being cut down.
How long does food waste decompose?
By weight, food waste is the largest waste item in American landfills. The time it takes for food waste to decompose depends on the type of food.
For example, orange peels will decompose in 6 months, while apple peels or banana peels will decompose in about one month. This is why sorting waste is so important.
How long does it take to decompose other types of garbage
Different sources give different information about how long they take. different types garbage. But the numbers don't differ much. We present them below:
- Cigarette butts - 10-12 years;
- Plastic cup - 50 years;
- Leather shoes - 25-40 years;
- Milk carton - 5 years;
- Plywood - 1-3 years;
- Painted boards - 13 years;
- Cotton gloves - 3 months;
- Cardboard - 2 months;
- Styrofoam - does not decompose;
- Nylon fabric - 30-40 years;
- Tin can - 50 years;
- Rope - 3-14 months;
- Batteries - 100 years;
- Sanitary pads - 500-800 years (they can be replaced);
- Wool clothes 1-5 years.
The increase in waste is a serious problem for mankind. The best way to cope with this problem is to avoid using products that produce waste and take more than a year to decompose.
Sourced from thebalance.com
Every day we see abandoned bottles, leftover food, plastic bags, paper and plastic cups and other garbage on the roads, sidewalks, yards and parks that were simply left on the street.
Sometimes it seems to us that in another day it will be removed, and in the landfill it will begin to decompose. But, firstly, not everywhere the garbage is removed in a timely manner, and secondly, some garbage can decompose for thousands of years.
How long does garbage take to decompose?
Scientists have already proven that plastic bottles and bags can lie for hundreds, thousands and even millions of years and not decompose.
Here is a list of the things we throw away and how long it takes for that garbage to decompose.
Paper and food waste
2 weeks
Apple cores and other fruit leftovers.
Although this is a fairly short time to decompose, leftover food on the ground can attract unwanted "friends" such as rats.
About 1 month
Paper napkins, paper bags, newspapers, paper towels.
The time it takes these things to decompose can vary greatly, as it depends on how you got rid of that type of trash.
6 weeks
Cereal boxes, paper bags, banana peels.
Banana peel may take longer to decompose if the weather is cooler. Since the peel is designed to keep the fruit fresh, it is high in cellulose, the same material that plastic bags are made from.
Some conservationists warn that the skins of some fruits, including banana peels, can take months to decompose. Even if the product is natural, this does not mean that it decomposes quickly.
2 to 3 months
Cardboard packaging for milk and juices and other types of cardboard.
The decomposition time of the cardboard primarily depends on its thickness. It is worth noting that some cartons may contain chemicals that significantly slow down the decomposition process.
6 months
Cotton clothes and paper books.
Of all types of fabrics, cotton decomposes the fastest because it is natural. If the cotton fabric thrown into the landfill is quite thin, then in warm weather it can decompose in just a week.
1 year
Woolen clothes (sweaters, socks).
Wool is a natural product and can decompose relatively quickly. What's more, as wool decomposes, it releases soil-friendly elements such as keratins. This product cannot be called completely garbage, as it does not cause long-term harm to the environment.
2 years
Orange peel, plywood, cigarette butts (although some studies indicate that cigarette butts can take over 10 years to decompose).
Up to 5 years
Heavy clothing made of wool, such as a coat or overcoat.
plastic trash
Up to 20 years old
Plastic bags. But studies show that in some cases, plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to decompose.
Many new plastic bags are designed to degrade quickly when exposed to direct sunlight.
However, most plastic bags are made from high-density polyethylene. Microorganisms in the ground do not perceive the chemicals that make up the bag as food, and therefore they do not participate in its decomposition.
30-40 years old
Products containing nylon: bodysuits, windbreakers, carpets, diapers. Some scientists believe that such goods can take up to 500 years to decompose, depending on environmental conditions.
While diapers are quite comfortable, they are also quite toxic, even if you haven't used them yet. They are processed with a variety of chemicals such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and dipentene, as well as a chemical called dioxin, which is a highly toxic carcinogen.
Metal debris, rubber, leather
50 years
Tin cans, car tires, Styrofoam cups, leather.
Leather can be chemically treated (as in the case of fashion items) and take much longer to decompose.
The thick leather used to make shoes can take up to 80 years to decompose.
Decomposition of polyethylene
70 to 80 years old
Rustling plastic bags (from chips and packaging, for example).
Despite the fact that a person eats the contents of a bag of chips very quickly, the bags themselves decompose for a long time. For example, one US resident found an empty bag of crisps on a Devon beach, dated 1967, but the bag itself looked like it had been thrown away last week.
About 100 years
Polyethylene products.
Of course, the decomposition time depends on the density and structure of the product. For example, ordinary plastic shopping bags can take up to 100 years to decompose.
Also in the category of things that can decompose for more than a century includes plastic bottles and various plastic containers and bowls.
It is worth noting that small parts made of polyethylene can be dangerous for animals that can choke on them.
Aluminum decomposition
About 200 years
Aluminum cans (from beer or soda, for example).
In this case, everything also depends on the density of the material and its structure. In the best case, such objects decompose for 200 years, but this process can drag on for half a millennium.
It is worth noting that, like plastic products, such items are dangerous for small animals that can climb into an empty jar and get stuck in it.
Such cans can be recycled many times and this process requires much less energy than creating a new can. Using the same amount of energy, you can make 20 recycled cans or 1 new aluminum can.
Recycling aluminum cans
Plastic decomposition
Do you know how much garbage decomposes? Do not know? Well, in vain - they would be in the know, they would not litter around themselves so much. It is especially striking how many years plastic decomposes - the most popular material for all occasions. We will tell you the most useful facts and tips so that you share them with your friends and benefit our planet Earth.
How many different types of garbage decompose: read and be surprised
How long plastic decomposes: ordinary plastic bags decompose in 100 years, but heavy plastic or chemical containers lie for 500 years. Those are some amazing numbers! Therefore, it is worth using decomposing bags made of environmental materials.
Dear moms, do you know how long a diaper decomposes? - A whole 500 years, so at least throw it in the trash can, and not past it.
How long does glass decompose: 1 million years! Amazed? We, too. Now put all glass bottles in special containers that will be recycled.
Do you know how long a tree decomposes? About 10 years, but oak, beech - longer.
Kurtsy, if you do not know how much a cigarette butt decomposes, we will answer: 5 years. That's how much a cigarette decomposes due to the cellulose acetate it contains. Are you still throwing bulls everywhere?
How long does polyethylene decompose: 100 years. Therefore, now scientists around the world are thinking about the question of how to replace it. We suggest using paper bags.
Fans of chewing, not talking, may be wondering how much gum decomposes in the ground. In hot climates, this will take 30 years, and in cold climates, several hundred years.
How long the metal decomposes: 100 years or more, depending of course which metal.
But a plastic bottle decomposes for more than 100 years. Considering how much a bag decomposes and how much plastic decomposes, let's not be pigs.
And remember yourself, and share this information with others to think about it. Here is a visual video on Youtube that will tell you what our bad upbringing costs for nature.
We are waiting for your likes and comments. J Was the article helpful to you? Read it to your teenage children. They often do not think about how badly such thoughtlessness and laziness affects nature. Bringing garbage to the bin is much easier than dealing with the consequences that soil pollution brings. Waste recycling technologies are improving, the main thing is that the garbage gets where it should be - to the landfill. Respect the work of janitors. We also advise you to watch a video from Youtube about how each of us can not only not litter, but also clean up a certain area of \u200b\u200bthe forest or our yard to make it clean.
Where paper can be used, use it, not plastic. This can improve the ecology and conservation of species in your area. Many materials are toxic, they are very harmful to both plants and animals, pollute water bodies. Think about it. And so too many factors, especially in big cities, affect the environment.
