The timing of the decomposition of various wastes. Deadlines for waste decomposition: how many generations will your wastebasket survive? Love after death
Have you ever wondered how quickly the environment will turn a plastic bottle into ashes, old tire Or a banana peel? The recycling problem household waste does not come down only to the fact that unscrupulous people throw garbage into unspecified places, including during outdoor recreation. Those household wastes that are collected centrally and sent to landfills without sorting cause no less harm to the planet.
It will take more than one hundred years before the mountains of garbage sprinkled with soil cease to pose a danger to environment. We offer to see how long it will take for the resulting garbage to become part of nature.
Food waste
This category includes the most rapidly decomposing waste. Remains food products rot under the influence of microorganisms within 1 month. The exception is orange peel: it takes the environment much longer to process it - from 4 to 6 months.
Paper and printed products
Ordinary paper and cardboard decompose in 1-2 months, but books or printed matter may take up to two years. The process of processing beautiful glossy magazines lasts the longest: nature will spend about 5 years to destroy them.
Clothing and footwear
The remains of clothes made of cotton, linen, bamboo fiber or viscose are completely recycled under the influence of moisture and microorganisms in 3 years. At the same time, wool products are less stable, and it will take no more than 1 year for them to decompose. But in order to recycle clothes made of synthetic materials and old shoes, it takes about 50 years.
Wood and boards
Wood thrown into a landfill decomposes in about 3-10 years, but wood products covered with paints and varnishes can rot for up to 13 years.
Chewing gum
Chewing gum thrown on the ground will disappear only after 30 years. Moreover, only territories with a warm climate fit within this optimistic period. tropical climate, where the decomposition processes last all year round.
Used batteries
Batteries and accumulators for household appliances decompose in nature for about 100 years.
Plastic bags
How quickly they entered our everyday life making it more comfortable and lighter. Meanwhile, the period of decomposition of a plastic bag cannot be compared with its short service life: it will take from 30 to 200 years.
Plastic bottles
Another scourge of modern civilization. the main problem plastic recycling lies in the fact that it is several times cheaper to produce a new batch of bottles than to recycle them. And here they are decomposing plastic bottles between 450 and 1000 years, depending on the climate and the composition of the plastic.
aluminum cans
Aluminum is a cheap and available material, which is also used in the manufacture of disposable beverage containers. Unfortunately, aluminum cans will remain a part of the environment for a long time: it will take 80 to 500 years for them to disappear.
iron cans
It takes about 10 years for used cans to decompose completely.
rubber tires
Waste tires are an integral part of the life of any motorist. It takes nature up to 100 years to recycle this type of waste.
Sponges for dishes
This handy household item is in every home. But we pay too high a price for convenience: foam rubber sponges decompose for about 200 years.
Glass
Despite the fact that glass items are made from natural material, the period of its decomposition in nature can exceed 1000 years. At the same time, experts believe that the glass does not completely decompose.
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 can decompose in more than long term 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.
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.
Lots of new plastic bags 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
Cans, car tires, foam 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, a 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 goods. 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 details made of polyethylene can pose a danger to 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 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
I have long wanted to "launch" this topic on the blog. It concerns the problem of garbage and pollution of our planet. Well, who does not observe this terrible picture of pollution of cities and villages, especially in last decade. Of course, it is connected with the activities of mankind and the development of production technologies. They have learned to produce, but not to destroy the waste of this production. This topic is especially relevant for the countries of the so-called third world and ... CIS countries.
It is now sad and mournful to look at everything that is happening related to littering and pollution: how will future generations live on this planet, turned into a garbage dump?
As a result of the development of technologies in the sphere of consumption, the materials from which objects are made take a very long time to self-destruct (decompose) and there are more and more of them. This has to be dealt with somehow. And immediately!
And now, for reference:
examples of types of materials and products that can pollute the environment until they are completely decomposed
on the rise, starting with examples where the product decomposes faster and ends with the longest self-destructing.
1. Animal waste products
Simply put, litter from animals living in cities and in which a person is somehow involved in life.
The term of "self-destruction" is not long - 10-15 days, but this does not beg the problematic issue. Why - it is clear without explanation :).
2. Food waste
Decomposition time is about a month. But the smell from decomposition products is usually very unpleasant.
3. Newsprint
Decomposes within one to three months. Depending on the weather conditions and other environmental reasons. However, as for most other types of garbage.
4. Leaves, twigs and seeds - "tree-handicraft garbage"
garbage with which the janitors “work” and the participants of subbotniks are actively fighting 🙂
The decay period is three to four months.
5. Cardboard and boxes from it
Decomposes within three months. And even more.
6. Office paper
Office ("writing") paper decomposes longer than newsprint and cardboard: two years.
7. Building boards
The decomposition period reaches ten years.
8. Tin cans
IN normal environment decompose within ten years.
9. Old shoes
thrown into a landfill is destroyed in about 10 years.
10. Iron products
They turn into iron oxide (i.e. decompose) in 10-20 years. Depending on the invoice.
11. Car batteries
Destroyed in about 100 years.
12. Foil
And it will take more than 100 years for its collapse ...
13. Electric batteries
For some reason, they "live" before decomposition, longer than batteries - about 110 years.
14. Rubber tires
They can only decompose within 120-140 years.
15. Plastic bottles
This very common product of the creation of mankind over the past 30 years and its high technology brings many benefits. But alas, such bottles decompose for a very long time: whole 200 years!
16. Aluminum cans
A terrible thing, I tell you. Aluminum decomposes during 500 years. It is understandable - non-ferrous metal. Yes, that's just in vain they began to use it for domestic purposes, probably. It’s good that homeless people collect them and hand them over to scrap metal collection points.
17. Glass
Oh, this is glass... A product that mankind invented a long time ago and it makes no sense to talk about its benefits and significance for people. One thing is unpleasant: of all the products created using the technology of processing silicon into this transparent liquid and solid under normal conditions, it is very difficult to “evaporate”. Glass breaks longer than any other household products - over 1000 years! Citizens, do not scatter glass in places where people and other fauna and flora live! Take care of nature and our planet!
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 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, a 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 goods. 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 chemical elements just stay 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. Development of technology, scientific discoveries, original research in various areas 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 the waste bucket, further falling into garbage containers, therefore they belong to the category of municipal solid waste (MSW).
We don't even think about the huge amount of slowly decomposing waste that we produce every day, just by 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 look quite harmless, because they can be torn so easily. In fact, the same plastic bottle takes about 100 years to decompose, and polyethylene film and 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. Our company Chisty Mir LLC is such an enterprise, we carefully take care of the preservation of the environment and professionally fulfill 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 food waste, paper towels and bags, banana peel, animal droppings, newspapers decompose;
- 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 the foam plastic products disintegrate, leather shoes or synthetic clothing;
- 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 bad 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 for working with solid waste and other types of waste from human civilization.