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How Long Does It Take To Decompose?
By Joe Fier | November 8, 2007
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.
Topics: Environment | 49 Comments »
November 10th, 2007 at 6:57 am
[...] How Long Does It Take To Decompose?: Disposable diapers take 500 years to decompose. That means poopy diapers from my son will be around in the year 2507. Oof. The styrofoam container I ate my salad in yesterday will be somewhere on Earth when the Andromeda Galaxy collides with our galaxy in 3 billion years. I really, really, really need to bring a container to work for when I get salad in the cafeteria. Great article, but sobering. (@ Be Healthy and Relax) [...]
November 10th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
You are probably going to hate me for this, but why does the length of decomposition matter as long as the waste is confined to land fills?
In addition, claiming that styrofoam will last an eternity is simply ludicrous. Even continents erode. So will your styrofoam. If nothing else, continental drift will eventually cause your styrofoam to get subducted into the earth’s mantle and get burned… of course, this is all academic and is a largely useless discussion.
As long is waste is confined to specific land fills, there really is no issue.
November 12th, 2007 at 8:30 am
shadox, I think the point of the decomposition time is that if things don’t decompose in a resonable time, then the number and size of landfills keeps growing…Before you know it, you’ll be living on top of old landfills with styrofoam cups in your front yard.
Great post! I found it from a link on BripBlap’s page. This will make me more aware of what I put in the garbage…and I will make sure that the aluminum and glass containers that I use go into the recycling!
November 12th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
shadox, don’t worry, I don’t hate you for your comment. I see your point because that has been a popular belief, but I believe that way of thinking is very ignorant. As SavingDiva said, landfills only last for so long, and when they are filled, they are only covered with dirt and left until someone wants to build on it. This was a big concern in my hometown, San Diego, at one time. These landfills are in no way airtight, so there’s no question it would spread to the rest of our environment. Any measure we can take to keep the world as clean as possible is a step in the right direction.
Thanks to both of you guys for commenting. It’s really fun to get some discussion going on in here.
November 13th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
[...] at our other site, Be Healthy and Relax, I recommend “How Long Does it Take to Decompose?” This article looks at how long it takes various products to decompose in our [...]
November 13th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Great post Joe. It really makes me want to petition my condo association to get recycle containers/dumpsters. I believe that in San Diego by a certain year the city is required to provide recycling containers? Maybe you can enlighten me….now I feel like a horrible person! But at least I reuse the plastic grocery bags for dog mess.
November 13th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Hey Alana, that is pretty nuts that your condos don’t offer any kind of recycling. I haven’t heard of a law coming around that would require it, but it sure doesn’t look like it would be unrealistic!
Maybe if you go around getting people to sign petitions you’ll be able to sneek an autograph from Cooper! =D
February 8th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
According to the National Parks Association it only takes 10-20 years for a diaper to decompose.
April 10th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
How did you find all this out? But pretty kewl and nice for my science project
May 13th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Oh, wow that really makes you think bout what u could do so that earth dosnt turn into one big trash can! i think ill recycle more now!
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Omg you shoud totally Fuck Off!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Busterd!
June 4th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Thanks so much for your intelligent comment. I would love to continue deleting your feebleminded remarks, but I fear you’ll continue adding more and I’ll grow one too many gray hairs in the process of doing so.
I’ll certainly note your considerations.
June 17th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Pamela, you wrote: “According to the National Parks Association it only takes 10-20 years for a diaper to decompose.”
I wasn’t able to find that statistic anywhere. Can you post the link?
Also, Joe, are you able to source this information? I’m doing a presentation on Thursday and would like to use this but need to know where you got it from.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!
June 17th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Hi Krystle.
It has been a very long time since I’ve written this article, so I cannot remember where I found this statistic. I would check this website out: http://www.thatdanny.com/2008/06/06/how-long-does-it-take-a-plastic-bag-or-a-glass-bottle-to-decompose/
It has some interesting facts with sources on there, as well.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:23 am
wat happens(hazards to environment and humans) wen plastic bags are burnt?
October 8th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Im currently doing my first year of a fine arts degree and next week we are doing an instalation workshop, so i decided to do somthing that involved waste, thats how i came across this page, im disgusted at how long a plastic bag will take to decompose. So for my instalation piece im creating a work of art which adresses this issue, inside a glass box im going to have a layer of plastic bags, then dirt and repeat this for disposable nappies, tinned cans, cotton rags, paper bags and a banana peel and out of the top im going to plant a tree and let it grow on waste like society does.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
That’s a really interesting project, Jessie. It sounds like a great idea, and, I’m sure, also visually disturbing. Be sure to tell me how it goes!
October 21st, 2008 at 3:35 pm
How long would you estimate it takes rubber to biodegrade (natural or synthetic)? What about polyester? When you know, please don’t hesistate to e-mail me with the info.
Thanks.
From H.M.F.
:10/21/2008:
November 4th, 2008 at 1:51 am
I am helping a friend do research for a presentation and have three questions for you:
1. You state plastic bags take 1,000,000 years to degrade, and I don’t doubt that may be true, Wikipedia states it only takes 10 to 20 years for them to degrade, presumably in a landfill. Is your basis for saying it takes that long because you are referring to decomposing in the environment, as opposed to in a landfill, and do you think they’ll decompose in a landfill that quickly?
2. Can you tell me how long any other things take to decompose, especially in the environment, or a landfill?
3. Can you provide me with any research or links to it that may be helpful to my friend?
Thanks for any help you can offer.. and for the good work you are doing to help make the world a better place for us all, especially for the generations to come!!!!!
November 9th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
ed austin,
I would just like you to note that Wikipedia is not a very accurate source and that you and your friend should try using peer- reviewed journals with references preferably through university libraries. In fact, anything that is on Wikipedia can be changed by anyone and should never be used in any sort of academic paper.
Mr. Fier,
I am doing a paper on the life cycle of wool products (mine being a Pendleton Wool blanket) would the one-year decomposition apply for a blanket as well? Do you have any other information on the specifics of decomposition? Anything at a more specific level would help me. Thanks!
November 15th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
thanks so much for this!
it really helped with my science fair project!
btw, do you have any sources where you got this info? if you do, i could really use them
March 18th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Joe, much of the information you have supplied is supported and validated by researchers, particularly Dr. William Rathje @ The University of Arizona. Much of your data is supported and can be read at http://www.nevadarecycles.gov/doc/curriculum/lesson%204%20master.pdf, which is also a great teaching tool. Hope this helps. Recyling is only part of the solution, but one of the easiest steps to take. Even a 3-year-old can recycle something.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I totaly agree with you dude!
June 1st, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Finnally!Someone really knows the facts!People say it take 450 years for a plastic jug to decompose.Boy are they wrong!You rock!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Yup, they’re wrong. Plastic can decompose in as little as 3 months with the right bacteria added. Styrofoam can be converted into biodegradable plastic under the same principle.
As for Wikipedia, the facts there compared to other encyclopias are considered well within the margin of error. However, Wikipedia should only be a starting point for research, not a considerable part of your reasearch.
Think we would all agree on this, we should do a lot more to utilize our waste.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I don’t know about completely decomposing but this morning I found an old plastic bag sitting on a shelf in my room. When I went to pick it up it literally fell apart in my hand, it was like picking up fish food. It couldn’t have been sitting there for more than a couple months, how is it possible for plastic to become that brittle in that little time?
November 5th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Funda, in responce to your post, when a plastic bag is burnt it releases toxic fumes that can be fatal or cause lasting (severe) damage to the brain. I know this because some guys in my science class decided to burn their pens to see what would happen. Apart from being expelled, one of them is still in hospital recovering but has been told that he will never acheve his full potential.
Every one at our school knows about it but it hasn’t stopped kids from doing it.
Hope this helps.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck
November 8th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
shadox fudge u
November 8th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
ur nto cool
November 18th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
cool oh yeah and poop u r retarded
December 23rd, 2009 at 7:23 pm
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January 15th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
can you believe how long some of thiese things take to decompose! Geese! No wonder globel warning is happening.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:58 pm
That was intriguing . I admire your finesse that you put into your work. Please do continue with more like this.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:35 am
please tell me what a freaking pear is made up of ive searched all day gooooooodd anserr me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!=(
February 28th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
I feel like
ing…so 
. 
:):):):):(:):):):):). Notice how I made a sad face in the middle of the smiley faces. See how creative I am. 
By the way, 
.
February 28th, 2010 at 10:17 pm
So, if you are wondering if I am mad, then you are probably right.
March 25th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
[...] crazy. And diapers create a lot of waste. Now this waste ends up in landfills and can take up to 500 years to decompose! That’s a LONG, LONG [...]
April 13th, 2010 at 11:35 am
hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!i just want to dip you in lemon_aid && throw milk duds at your boobies….
April 21st, 2010 at 6:29 am
[...] taken from http://behealthyandrelax.com/2007/11/how-long-does-it-take-to-decompose/ and [...]
April 22nd, 2010 at 1:09 pm
I was planning on using this as a reference website for an Earth Day Activity in my classroom…NO WAY! Too much UNNECESSARY profanity!
May 11th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Ryan, your plastic bag is photodegrading, which is what happens to plastic exposed to the elements. It’s not breaking down into organic matter, its just breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces. The light makes it brittle like that.
May 13th, 2010 at 11:02 am
If you don’t recycle you will help kill the Artic Animals.
May 25th, 2010 at 11:30 am
[...] believe me? Check it from the source. (Which also lists there [...]
June 13th, 2010 at 7:22 am
Thank you, I will use the information in my Going Green Class at St. Stan’s this year.
June 14th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Well, i need to know how long it takes for viscose, acrylic and lycra to break down. Other than that GREAT information, any ideas where i could find out how long it takes for them to break down?
Thanks
X
July 5th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Thanks you for listing the answers acordingly of how long it takes some of the synthetic or boidegradable products to decompose….I m involved in an arguement sometime ago and I support the fact that synthetic element decays but will take longer time. Thank you once again for helping me prove my point.
July 20th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
[...] Their sandwich comes nestled in never-to-degrade Styrofoam, and their drinks do too. That’s enough of a reason for [...]
September 2nd, 2010 at 9:40 am
[...] percent of Chinese and only two percent of Indian babies wear them. It takes a disposable diaper 550 years to decompose, a staggering length of time especially when one considers the number of diapers that the average [...]