How Long Does It Take To Decompose?
Today I feel like posting some interesting facts about some of the most common products we use on a daily basis. Since this is Green Week (at least according to NBC), I would like to add some good-to-know info into the mix. I know that in these days, all we hear is recycle this or reuse that, but it all comes at us for a reason. We’re finally realizing that we can make a difference for the future of our Earth, so why not act upon it? Many times we can become blinded from the endless amounts of statistics and numbers being introduced, but maybe this list can help us understand how important it is to watch what we do with these essential daily items. Check out how long each of these products take to decompose in the environment…
- Banana Peel: 3-4 weeks
- Paper Bag: 1 month
- Cardboard: 2 months
- Wool Sock : 1 year
- Tinned Steel Can: 50 years
- Aluminum Can: 200-500 years (But if recycled, it can be reused within 6 weeks!)
- Disposable Diapers: 550 years
- Plastic Bags : 20-1000 years
- Plastic Jug: 1 million years
- Glass : 1-2 million years
- Styrofoam: 1+ million years
This list might put some of the Green supporters’ words into perspective for a lot of people. It sure opened my eyes when I did a little research to see what the highest concerns were with today’s products. Just make sure you care as much about the container as you you do about the healthy food within it. Without a productive, prospering Earth, there cannot be a way to keep ourselves in healthy condition.
Sources include: QLPA, No More Trash! & ABC.
89 Responses to “How Long Does It Take To Decompose?”
Leave a Reply
styrafoam doesnt decompose at all. i know because teachers have told me in the past while i cleaned up the beach
[...] wrapper or some kind of plastic on the ground, remember that it’s going to take that plastic 20+ years to melt and go back to its liquid form. This is the plastic that is in all the sewer pipes blocking [...]
i am a 15 year old cherokee boy and i think all of this is not going to stop till all people stop using trees, litering, burning trash, throwing away usefull parts of animals, killing them for fun and games, and STOP INDUSTRY. WHAT HAPPENED TO LIVING OFF THE LAND my people lived on this soil sinse before anybody even knew we existed and if industrialization never took plase than fighting, war, and desease would have never took place because we wouldent have things to fight about. think from a native americans perspective before you act this was our home first mabey you can try to respect it. we dont track mud on your floors and we dont throw our trash in your yard so dont do it to ours because even if we stop pollution now my great great great grand children still wont see a clean earth or even a clean puddle of water. respect mother earth for what she is not what you can get out of her. thank you
AWESOME!!! really helping me with my persuasive essay for school!!!
Thanks
hey girl i just love love the website it helps me analyze how important it is to live your life recycyling trust you dont know in how deep of deppression i was until i started recycling it has gave me a true meaning in life i just love this website and i hope everybody will follow my recomandations of recycling
thabks this helped me cheat in ems but i didnt really cheat but thanks
thanks u helped me cheat in ems (not really)but lots of girls r using this site
you rock
xoxoxoxo
Allison
Heyyy….are yhu sure this is true!!
well, thanks for the info……
but that shows that the whole thing about recycling is nothing but
that recycling is nothing but….. FLUF
very sad indeed….
omg thank you u helped me cheat on my bioligy semester exam:)
BUAHAHAHAHAAHA>;}
LOL hey if your a native american arnt you doing the same with you computer and your electricity?!?!
Ok So the Boy is native American And hes Talking About How His People lived On this Land And All This Crap But Yet i Bet he has A cell Phone,Some Type if game System And He Had To Be On A Computer To Write This So Whyy Didmt he just Stay Off The Computer And “Help the Enviorment”
[...] you know it takes a disposable diaper 550 years to decompose?!?! Multiply that by how many diapers one baby uses in their life! Holy [...]
Maybe he went to a library or college to use a public computer that was already made.
[...] This gives me the best feeling- to know that I’m not using a bag just once that will take thousands of years to decompose. The bags we buy now are purported to decompose in about 15 years. That is awesome [...]
bull fuckin shit
HAS NOBODY POSTED IN THE LAST YEAR??!!??!!!???
oh nvm my computer messed up srry everyone
[...] cheaper in the long run as well, way way way cute, are so much better for the environment (hello! one disposable can take 300-500 years to decompose!), and they’re far more convenient than people imagine. As for brands, there are many. But if [...]
@quenitsami:
Yeah… different tribes never fought one another. It’s all the white man’s fault.
And seriously… what is wrong with cutting down trees? So long as they are replanted at an equal or greater rate, it’s the best renewable resource out there! Most tree based products decompose in a very reasonable timeframe, and much of it can be recycled into lower quality paper goods like toilet paper.
I fail to see where there is a problem cutting trees, and to assume native americans never had any violent quarrels is ignorant. All races on this planet have had violent quarrels at one point or another. Native Americans are no different.
hey how about you all shut the fuck up and get off the native american kid’s back you assholes. he’s just saying something nice to help the environment. and you mister wayne allen with the white man’s fault???? where the fuck did that even come from
When you talk about your own race as being superior to others, you can’t expect people to just sit by quietly. If I say something like he did, I am a racist asshole. If he does it he is just being proud and should be left alone. I don’t care what color you are. If you imply your race is better than another, you are an asshole. It’s that simple.
I am all for racial, sexual, and gender equality. But equality means treated the same. It does not mean to give special treatment because their people were screwed in the past. I treat everyone equally. If you are going to make blanket statements about groups of people, I am going to call you on it.
Equality… that is what I give to everyone, like it or not.
[...] taken from http://behealthyandrelax.com/2007/11/how-long-does-it-take-to-decompose/ and [...]
[...] on conservation – the spoon that will endanger the environment, humanity and be here for a million years should be the expensive spoon! There should be a plastic tax that would help clean up efforts [...]
HOLD MAH DICKS BHALGFRVGWO
HOLD MAH BALLZZ SBAGIOATUXFWKLFUWGS BOY!!!!!!!!! THERY IS GOOD!
luv u baby lets make smooofff!!! smooffff!!!
a good deal addiitional info with this kind of issue online on a website, observe.
Diapers only take 450 years
Ok to the guy that said that diapers only take 450 years tho its not as much as posted in previous statements its still a pretty damn long time i think we all can agree so however long it does take is too damn long so what the **** does it really matter either way they all arent decomposing as rapidly as we need them too to make a difference i think is what the bigger pic is about which is the reason why this site was set into motion and about the natives and whites lets b real race has nothing to do with anything because as allot of u have displayed ignorance comes in in many colors races sex’s etc i think allot of u asses have gotten sidetracked i for one believe we are all going to get what we deserve in the end both to those who r good and evil evil being translated meaning unclean unclean in our thoughts actions and of course as we have seen…. statements all have sinned and fallen short of GOD’s glory let he who is without sin cast the first stone. if u care act dont just talk about it for those who love to talk and not act please try to avoid bad mouthing those who r acting on it…for crying outloud u dont wanna help and dont wanna let others help which means your only in the way….
thank you sooo much for helping i used this for facts as a i pad for school becuz it helps recycle paper and a lot more
? ? ? ? ?
<3
Try up to 2 years for banana skins, not 3-4 weeks, they are gonna be visible for a long, long time.
hi jonh +how is ti goning
nail polish almost instantly dissinagrates styrafoam. try it if you dont believe me.
[...] It seems that with the pull for environmental friendliness the products we use today, besides Styrofoam and diapers, are able to decompose at a much faster rate than the materials that mummify human [...]