The pollution in the world has reached worrying levels in recent decades, with devastating impacts on the environment and in human health. Among the most harmful activities is the dumping of human consumption waste and that has serious consequences, influencing the climate crisisthe lost of biodiversitythe acidification of the oceans and the appearance of numerous diseases.
In response to this environmental crisis, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of reduce our carbon footprint individual. More and more people are adopting sustainable habits to mitigate climate change and protect our planet. That’s why It is essential to understand how long it takes for materials to degrade. From everyday waste to the products we use, they all have an impact on our environment.
A plastic bottle can take up to 1,000 years
Organic waste, such as lightly processed foods, can decompose in as little as six months. For example, an apple or orange peel disintegrates during this period, while banana peel takes approximately four weeks to decompose completely.
Paper, although considered one of the fastest degrading materials, still takes about a year to completely decompose. However, it is important to highlight the importance of recycling paper to avoid deforestation and promote its reuse. Wood, another natural material, is estimated to degrade in two to three years.making it a relatively fast option compared to other materials.
On the other hand, chewing gum or aluminum cans have significantly longer degradation times. Chewing gum can take up to five years to disappear, while aluminum cans used to package soft drinks and other products can take up to ten years to completely degrade.
However, persistent materials such as plastic and glass represent the biggest challenge in terms of degradation. Plastic, known for its durability, can take up to a thousand years to decompose, making it a serious environmental threat due to its massive use and waste generation. It takes around 150 years for a plastic bag to disappear. Similarly, glass bottles, although recyclable, can take up to four thousand years to completely degrade.
