![]() ![]() Plastic bottles for beverages are one of the most recycled types of plastic in the world. If you love straws (or know someone who does), consider replacing them with stainless steel drinking straws that can be reused. Plastic Straws: 200 Yearsĭid you know that more than 500 million plastic drinking straws are tossed in the trash every day? Plastic straws are too small to be recycled, so they’re destined for the landfill after just one use. Thankfully, reusable plastic bags and cotton mesh produce bags have become a mainstream replacement for the eco-conscious shopper. Most of these plastic bags are made from polyethylene, a type of plastic that breaks down into tiny pieces that pollute our waterways, contaminate soil and enter our food chain when animals eat them. Every year, an estimated 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. Here are the estimated degradation rates for some of the most commonly used plastics:ĭespite many cities banning them, single-use plastic bags are still one of the most pervasive sources of plastic pollution. These tiny pieces - known as microplastics - are extremely harmful to the environment and all who inhabit it.ĭepending on the type of plastic and the environmental conditions, the degradation process can take anywhere from a few decades to a few hundred years. There’s simply too much plastic for microorganisms to eat.Īlthough most plastics don’t decompose, they do eventually break down into smaller and smaller pieces. That said, plastic-eating bacteria are by no means a feasible solution to our growing plastic pollutions problem. One bacteria in particular, Ideonella sakaiensis, has been shown to break down PET, a type of plastic widely used to make plastic bottles. But in recent years, researchers have discovered a few organisms that appear to eat certain types of plastic. SO, DOES PLASTIC LAST FOREVER?įor the most part, yes. ![]() They simply haven’t had enough time to evolve in a way that would allow them to break down plastic. But here’s the thing: most bacteria don’t like feeding on plastic. In order for plastic to decompose, it would need to be broken down by bacteria. Chemists also add water-repellents, UV inhibitors, plasticizers and other performance-enhancing additives to plastic, making them even more indestructible. Most plastics are partially or fully synthetic, meaning they’re designed by humans and manipulated under extremely artificial conditions. Plastic isn’t organic (not entirely, anyway), so it technically can’t decompose. Decomposition is a complex process by which organic materials like food scraps, wood and paper are broken down into simpler organic compounds by bacteria and fungi. But how long does it take for plastic to decompose? What is the lifecycle of plastic? And what can we earthlings do to combat our growing plastic problem? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR PLASTIC TO DECOMPOSE? We know that plastic stays in the environment for a really long time, threatening the planet and all those who inhabit it. According to one study, humans have produced an estimated 8.3 billion tons of plastic since the 1950s, and nearly 80 percent of it ends up in landfills or the natural environment. And each year, we produce more and more plastic, most of which is for single-use items. Everything is made with plastic now: your car, your home, your beauty products - even your beloved blue jeans.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |