How long does it take for garbage to decompose? Duration of decomposition of solid household waste
You can find a lot of information on the Internet about the decomposition times of different types of waste, however, as a rule, the official source of information is not indicated and some figures are questionable. The Epoch Times analyzed several specialized sources on English language, to clarify the time frame during which garbage decomposes. The publication presents infographics for a more visual understanding.
According to environmental policy expert Tatiana Tevkun, official landfills alone occupy about 7% of Ukraine's territory. At the same time, waste accumulation increases by 5-7% annually.
Although individual city residents can take waste to specialized collection points marked during the Epoch Times, the issue has not been resolved at the state level, and the majority of the population continues to throw all waste into one box.
Let's see how many years it will take for the waste that ends up in a landfill to decompose.
On the website of the US Department of Protective Services environment The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has published a list that gives an idea of the approximate decomposition time of some items that end up in the trash.
At the same time, the decomposition period of plastic bags given in this table raises doubts. Many Ukrainian sources give their decomposition period as 100-200 years. Some sources give a figure of 500 or even 1000 years. However, it is impossible to establish an exact figure for the reason that plastic bags They have been used for a little over 50 years, and scientists determine the decomposition period only experimentally.
At the same time, environmentalists say that even biodegradable bags may never break down completely. This is due to the fact that when they decompose to the smallest particles, microorganisms do not want to process them. Thus, microparticles of plastic will continue to exist in an unprocessed form, although they are not visible to the naked eye. Scientists have yet to study the influence of these particles on nature.
We also suggest that you get acquainted with data from another Western source dedicated to recycling waste - .
The website publishes the average value of decomposition times various waste on garbage dumps taken from Western information sources.
It takes over a million years for glass and ceramics to break down into smaller things under the influence of water, but they can survive indefinitely in the ground.
The decomposition period of paper is not very long, but lead dyes end up in water bodies with runoff, making the water unfit for drinking, poisoning the soil and everything that grows on it.
Of course, not everything we throw away harms the environment; organic waste is even useful, as it fertilizes the earth. The decomposition time of organic waste is minimal, but when it accumulates in city landfills, it produces an unpleasant odor and attracts insects and rodents that spread various infectious diseases. At the same time, it is believed that the methane gas released organic waste in a landfill, contributes to global warming.
One of the most hazardous waste are batteries and energy-saving lamps containing mercury. One battery is believed to pollute 20 meters of area or 400 liters of water.
Much of what we throw into landfills can get a second life. Sorting waste that has already ended up in a landfill is a rather difficult and costly task; the only way out is to separate human waste at the level of each family.
Do you know how long it takes for garbage to decompose? Do not know? Well, in vain - if only we were aware, we wouldn’t litter around so much. It’s especially amazing how long it takes for plastic, the most popular material for all occasions, to decompose. We will tell you the most useful facts and tips for you to share it with your friends and benefit our planet Earth.
How long do different types of garbage decompose: read and be surprised
How long does plastic decompose: ordinary plastic bags decompose in 100 years, but heavy plastic or containers for chemicals last 500 years. These are some amazing numbers! Therefore, it is worth using degradable bags made from environmental materials.
Dear mothers, do you know how long it takes for a diaper to decompose? - As many as 500 years, so at least throw it away trash can, and not past it.
How long does glass take to decompose: 1 million years! Amazed? We, too. Now put all glass bottles in special containers that will be recycled.
Don't know how long it takes for wood to decompose? About 10 years, but oak and beech - longer.
Kurts, if you don’t know how long it takes for a cigarette butt to decompose, we will answer: 5 years. This is how long it takes for a cigarette to decompose due to the cellulose acetate it contains. Still throwing away bulls anywhere?
How long does it take for polyethylene to decompose: 100 years. Therefore, now scientists all over the world are thinking about the question of what to replace it with. We suggest using paper bags.
Those who like to chew rather than talk may be wondering how long it takes for chewing gum to decompose in the ground. In hot climates this will take 30 years, and in cold climates – several hundred years.
How long does metal decompose: 100 and more years, depending on what metal it is, of course.
But a plastic bottle takes more than 100 years to decompose. Considering how long it takes for a bag to degrade and how long it takes for plastic to degrade, let's not be pigs.
Remember it yourself and share this information with others to make them think. Here is a visual video on Youtube that will tell you what our bad upbringing costs nature.
We are waiting for your likes and comments. J Did you find the article useful? Read it to your teenage children. They often do not think about how bad such thoughtlessness and laziness affects nature. It is much easier to bring garbage to the trash can than to deal with the consequences of soil pollution. Waste processing technologies are improving, the main thing is that the garbage ends up where it should be - in a 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 tidy up a certain area of the forest or our yard to make it clean.
Where you can use paper, use it rather than plastic. This can improve the ecology and conservation of species in your region. Many materials are toxic, they are very harmful to both plants and animals, and pollute water bodies. Think about it. And so many factors, especially in big cities, affect the environment.
It's not for nothing that different countries Around the world, it is customary to sort garbage waste that residents throw away, and in some of them you can get a fine for improper sorting. Why were such laws passed? developed countries peace? The reason is simple: many types of waste do not decompose for a very long time, or when decomposed they cause irreparable harm to the environment, which is why they are destroyed or processed in a special way. We present to you the decomposition times different types household waste.
1. Animal droppings - decomposition period 10-15 days
The least harmful garbage that can be seen on the streets of small towns and villages, however, it causes a lot of trouble for residents.
2. Food waste - decomposition period 30 days
Potato peelings, meat trimmings and everything that remains edible after cooking can be classified as this type of garbage. Also not that dangerous.
3. Newsprint - decomposition period 1-4 months
Before you throw the newspaper on the road, think that for another 4 whole months the residents of your yard will admire the paper trampled into the dirt.
4. Leaves, seeds, twigs - decomposition period is 3-4 months
If public utilities did not remove natural debris from parks, people would soon be walking through mountains of branches and leaves.
5. Cardboard boxes - decomposition period 3 months
It is completely harmless waste if you throw it in trash cans.
6. Office paper - decomposition period 2 years
Yes, just imagine. It's all about composition and density: paper is made precisely so that documents printed on it can be stored for a long time, which, unfortunately, does not ignore the period of its decomposition.
7. Boards - decomposition period 10 years
Ordinary boards that are used on construction sites. Of course, if they are not subject to any processing (for example, impregnation with fuel oil).
8. Iron cans - decomposition period 10 years
Like boards, cans of stewed meat or condensed milk will rot in the ground for another 10 years after you throw them under a tree in the forest.
9. Old shoes - decomposition period is 10 years
Everything here, of course, depends on the composition of the shoe and the degree of its wear, but on average, shoes made of leatherette will decompose within a tenth of a century.
10. Fragments of brick and concrete - decomposition period is 100 years
This is exactly the garbage that every development company prefers to bury under the playground in the courtyard of the house. Yes, they do this quite often. Perhaps this is justified: after all, the “Stalin” ones have already been standing for 80 years =)
11. Car batteries - decomposition period is 100 years
This kind of waste is, of course, more profitable to recycle. After all, for 1 used battery (20-25 kg) you can earn about 500 rubles.
12. Foil - decomposition period more than 100 years
Yes, despite the fact that the thickness of the iron leaf is less than 0.5 mm, it is very strongly compressed. So don't throw away the packaging from yours. meat products on hikes.
13. Electric batteries - decomposition period 110 years
Here, not only the decomposition period plays a role, but also the harm to the environment that a lithium battery causes when it oxidizes. Many charitable organizations fighting for a cleaner planet offer to save batteries so that they can later come and take them from you.
14. Rubber tires - decomposition period 120-140 years
Rubber is one of the most durable materials. Fortunately, when changing tires at a service station, most drivers leave their old ones as a gift, or for a symbolic price there. And smart service holders then hand it over for recycling.
15. Plastic bottles - decomposition period is 180-200 years
Plastic is also highly dangerous and toxic, not to mention that it is not very pleasant to look at the side of the roads strewn with empty plastic bottles from .
16. Aluminum cans - decomposition period 500 years
Almost the most dangerous garbage. It takes a long time to decompose, releases harmful substances during oxidation, and predominates on our planet.
17. Glass - decomposition period is more than 1000 years
No one knows how much of it is already packed in our holiday destinations. Just think: a millennium! At least another 12-15 generations will enjoy our fragments.
If you at least sometimes pay attention to environmental problems, then you probably know the damage plastic causes to our planet. This collection contains 20 facts about plastic that will make you think even more about whether it is worth using it en masse
1. It takes about 450 years before plastic begins to decompose. After that, it will still pass 50-80 years until it completely decomposes. At the current rate of production of this material, our planet will be completely covered in plastic before its decomposition begins. 
2. Taking into account the decomposition period, we can say that not a single piece of plastic produced will even begin to decompose in the next 4 centuries 
3. The average American consumed 1.6 gallons of bottled water in 1976. Already in 2006, this figure increased to 28.3 gallons and continues to grow rapidly 
4. 40% total plastic waste make up plastic bottles
5. Another interesting fact is that 90% of the price you pay for water is the cost of plastic, while water itself costs about 10%. 
6. One resident of any highly developed country buys an average of 150 bottles of water per year, without paying attention to the alternative 
7. 24 million gallons of oil are needed to produce a billion plastic bottles
8. Just 25 recycled bottles are enough to produce a jacket for an adult. 
9. Europeans are also not interested in recycling plastic. Currently, only 2.5 percent of the total is recycled in Europe 
10. One of the main polluters of the ocean is the fishing industry. throwing out a huge amount plastic waste. About 150 tons end up in the water annually, including packaging, fishing nets, and other debris 
11. This garbage causes the death of many sea creatures who mistake garbage for food. The number of animals dying is in the millions. The dumping of garbage also leads to the formation of the Great Pacific Garbage Island, where currents carry all the discarded plastic
12. Over 13 billion plastic bottles are produced worldwide every year 
13. A good sign is that over the past few years, plastic recycling in the United States has at least tripled; more than 1,600 enterprises are already involved in recycling 
14. However, the percentage of recycled plastic in the US is only 27%, which is still the highest in the world 
15. Recycling just one plastic bottle can generate enough energy to power a 60V light bulb for 6 hours. 
16. Recycling plastic can save up to 2/3 of the energy needed to make plastic from raw materials 
17. 4 out of 5 bottles in the US are made of plastic. In other countries of the world this figure is much higher 
18. Research shows that about 90% of consumers reuse plastic bags, as trash bags or for some other purpose. 
19. Storing and shipping water in plastic bottles is the least energy-efficient method, but nevertheless the most popular 
20. Some countries have completely banned the use of plastic bottles. Among them are Australia, China, Austria, Bangladesh, Ireland and several other countries 
Have you ever wondered how quickly the environment will turn a plastic bottle, an old tire or banana peel? The problem of household waste disposal is not limited to the fact that unscrupulous people throw out garbage in undesignated 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 hundreds of years before mountains of garbage covered with soil will no longer pose a danger to the environment. We suggest you see how long it will take for the generated garbage to become part of nature.
Food waste
This category includes the most rapidly decomposing waste. Leftover food products rot under the influence of microorganisms within 1 month. The exception is orange peel: It takes much longer for the environment to process it - from 4 to 6 months.
Paper and printed matter
Regular paper and cardboard decompose in 1-2 months, but books or printed materials can take up to two years. The process of recycling beautiful glossy magazines takes the longest: nature will spend about 5 years to destroy them.
Clothes and shoes
Remains of clothing made from cotton, linen, bamboo fiber or viscose will be completely recycled under the influence of moisture and microorganisms in 3 years. At the same time, wool products are less stable and will take no more than 1 year to decompose. But in order to recycle clothes made from 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 wooden products coated with paints and varnishes can rot for up to 13 years.
Chewing gum
Thrown to the ground chewing gum will disappear only after 30 years. Moreover, only territories with warm temperatures fit within this optimistic period. tropical climate, where decomposition processes last all year round.
Waste batteries
Batteries and accumulators for household appliances take about 100 years to decompose in nature.
Plastic bags
How quickly did they enter our daily life, making it more comfortable and easier. Meanwhile, the decomposition period plastic bag cannot be compared with its short service life: it will take from 30 to 200 years.
Plastic bottles
Another scourge modern civilization. the main problem recycling of plastic is that it is several times cheaper to produce new batch bottles, than to recycle them. But plastic bottles take from 450 to 1000 years to decompose, depending on the climate and the composition of the plastic.
Aluminum cans
Aluminum is a cheap and accessible material, which is also used in the manufacture of disposable beverage containers. Unfortunately, aluminum cans will remain part of the environment for a long time: it will take from 80 to 500 years for them to disappear.
Iron cans
It will take about 10 years for used cans to completely decompose.
Rubber tires
Waste tires are an integral part of the life of any motorist. It takes nature up to 100 years to process this type of waste.
Dish sponges
This convenient household item is found in every home. But we pay too much for convenience high price: Foam sponges take about 200 years to decompose.
Glass
Despite the fact that glass items are made from natural material, its decomposition period in nature can exceed 1000 years. At the same time, experts believe that glass does not completely decompose.
