Dear Mother Earth and lamenting this, it is worth mentioning one of the main reasons for the hidden danger - long-term, in most cases accompanied by the release toxic substances. Let's jump ahead a little and see what awaits our descendants who decide to explore the soil profiles of urban horizons.
You and I remember that in nature, therefore, garbage remains natural origin(plant or animal) we will not detect, because they decompose the fastest.
So, animal droppings(valuable, by the way) decomposes in a maximum of 10 days.
And here fallen leaves, small twigs, will gradually rot, turning into a humus mass within a month or a whole season.
Large branches They take longer to decompose, but after a maximum of 10 years there will be no trace left of them.
Banana peel- neither less nor more, and the decomposition period is up to 6 months, so throw it under the nearest bush, with the thought: “It will rot soon!” not worth it.
On average, ubiquitous microorganisms are processed within a few weeks.
And here remains of bones They can last 5 or 6 years, but, in general, no more than 8.
Cloth from decomposes in 2-3 years, without causing damage to the environment, which cannot be said about synthetic materials, the decomposition period of which is up to 40 years.
And here woolen products much more since it only takes a year to “digest” them.
Decomposition time paper vary. Thus, a discarded trolleybus ticket will completely disappear from the face of the Earth in just a month. decomposes in 2-3 years, and wax paper - as much as 5 years. By the way, it is strictly forbidden to burn paper together with food products, as this can result in the formation of dioxides.
Wooden crafts decompose within 10 years. However, the degree of wood processing plays a significant role in this process. So, if regular boards will decompose in 4 years, then covered with a layer of paint- already over 13.
Bank is one of the most popular. Do you know how long it takes for these containers, often disposable, to decompose? Iron cans it takes up to 10 years, tin– about 90, but aluminum- about 500. Only 5 centuries, nothing compared to eternity :).
What else to remember? Oh yes. Ubiquitous polyethylene. So, the decomposition time of products made from this material depends on the initial density and structure. For example, ordinary thin plastic bags
, which sellers love to wrap everything in, take 100-200 years to decompose. They are accompanied by “partners” - and containers.
A small filter carelessly thrown away cigarette butt b will slowly lose its position, decomposing for more than 3 years.
Ordinary ones who recommend housewives to change at least once a week due to the development of microorganisms, after seven days of hard work, go to a well-deserved rest. True, it comes only within the next 200 years.
If you accidentally drop a bottle of water at your feet, you will breathe a sigh of relief, thinking “how good it is that scientists have invented such a practical material as plastic.” After all, if it weren’t for him, the floor would have been filled with liquid, and you risked stepping on sharp fragments.
Imagine that you went on a hike and, of course, took with you mineral water in a plastic bottle. After a few hours, all the water is used up and the unnecessary plastic can be thrown away. But here’s the problem - there’s not a single trash can around, and the thought creeps into my head: “should I throw this bottle somewhere here - sooner or later the plastic will decompose.” But a responsible and sensible person would never do that. Organic materials such as wood, when buried in soil, are quickly decomposed and turned into compost by bacteria. But when it comes to plastic, bacteria won't help with its decomposition.
It may seem abandoned plastic bottle will decompose forever, but of course it doesn't. Where bacteria cannot help, sunlight will help. Ultraviolet rays destroy the molecular structure of plastic, gradually turning the plastic bottle into a pile of small plastic shards. This process is especially noticeable in those parts of the ocean where currents collect plastic waste into huge islands of plastic bottles and plastic bags. Ecologists have noticed that if new garbage does not join the “island,” it begins to shrink over time. It has been established that under the influence of direct sun rays An ordinary plastic bottle breaks down in about a year.
Can you breathe a sigh of relief - has the problem of plastic decomposition been solved? Not at all. The harmful substances contained in plastic are not going away. Plastic packaging decomposed on the surface of the ocean releases toxic substances(for example, bisphenol A, which causes cancer), which, sinking to the bottom, poison marine life, settling in their gills.
No plastic bottles or bags modern civilization can no longer imagine his life, but the problem with pollution environment plastic needs to be addressed in as soon as possible. Most promising idea seems to be used natural products for the production of plastic containers. Advantages this method are obvious: plastic bag made, for example, from corn starch, will decompose in just half a month.
In the meantime, new technologies are on the way, each of us can contribute to the preservation surrounding nature. To do this, you just need to throw the plastic bottle or bag into the designated place, and not throw it away anywhere.
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Dear readers, today main theme became our article! Did you know that decomposition time various materials in natural conditions:
Cotton - 1-5 months.
Paper - 2-5 months.
Plastic bag - about 400 years
Plastic containers, packaging - does not decompose
*about 400 years— decomposition time of one plastic bag in nature
*20 minutes- this is the average time to use one plastic bag
*60%
plastic bags do not decompose and do not burn
*60 %
waste polluting the seabed - plastic bags
A plastic bag and the people of planet Earth!
* Approximately 6 million 300 thousand tons of garbage, most of which is plastic, are dumped into the world's oceans every year. The ecology of the planet is greatly disrupted due to plastic waste.
*According to the UN Committee for Nature Conservation, every year plastic waste cause the death of 1 million birds, 100 thousand marine mammals and an innumerable number of fish.
* Less than 1% of plastic is ever recycled for reuse.
* The final decomposition period of polyethylene is about 500 years. And when burned they release harmful substances, dangerous to nature and human health.
And the most important thing:
Almost every piece of plastic EVER produced still exists.
The temporary life of plastic packaging is extremely short; it is sent to garbage dumps. It is almost impossible to get rid of used plastic. Until recently, there were only two ways to solve the problem: burial and incineration. plastic waste. But plastic does not decompose in the soil, and when it is burned, it releases substances that are extremely toxic to humans. Penetrating into the soil, the “poison” enters groundwater, and then into the water supply.
Now let's think! For example, we visit the store 1-3 times a week. Every time we pack our purchases in free plastic bags (or even buy them). Let's do the math. It turns out that throughout the year we bring home about 160 bags, and if we also take into account those bags in which fruits, vegetables, meat (double bag), fish (double bag), pickled vegetables (double bag) are packed. It’s hard to even calculate how much cellophane and plastic each of us can use!
Let's take the average inhabitant of planet Earth at the present time. So, the average resident:
- visits stores 1-6 times a week.
- brings home from 160-300 packages throughout the year!!!
How to minimize the use of plastic packaging in our lives?
What can each of us, the inhabitants of our beautiful planet Earth, do to make our conscious contribution to solving this problem?
There are several simple steps:
1. Use reusable bags made from natural materials to visit stores and supermarkets, buy groceries and other goods! Canvas, fabric, baskets, string bags! It is both beautiful and most importantly, very convenient. You can go shopping with them an infinite number of times! 🙂
And also, using an ecological bag, you avoid using 6 plastic bags per week and 300 per year!
2. Stop using the plastic bags that come free with your grocery purchases. If we start to refuse cellophane in stores, the demand for them will fall. This means that in the near future, where demand falls, supply will also fall. And if people stop consuming, production will stop!
Example. One inhabitant of the Earth, by refusing plastic for a year, does not use 50 liters of oil, which means the number of oil developments is reduced, and the risk of polluting our nature with oil spills is reduced!
3. If you use plastic, find a way to recycle it. As we found out, other people still won’t be able to do this for you. It turns out that by throwing away plastic, you take responsibility for this non-recyclable garbage onto yourself.
How can you recycle plastic?
Keep using it. Go shopping with the same plastic bags, then wash and reuse.
Read materials on the Internet about how people have come up with a lot of creative crafts from cellophane, polyethylene and plastic bottles. For example, many people knit bags, baskets, bath mats, slippers and flip-flops from cellophane. You can make completely different crafts from plastic bottles - feeders, flowers, butterflies, etc. You can read about this in our next articles. 🙂
If you already have similar experience in recycling or recycling plastic, write to us about it! And also write in the comments how we can solve the issue of plastic packaging in our daily lives?
The ecology of life is in our hands. Thank you for your attention. Have a good day.
When you accidentally drop a bottle of ketchup on the floor, you mentally thank the manufacturer for the plastic packaging. Most containers, cups and bottles are made using polyethylene terephthalate, or PET. This is a material that is practically indestructible.
But when it comes time to throw that same bottle in the landfill, you'll probably have other thoughts. Now the feeling of gratitude to manufacturers is replaced by shame for their behavior. We buy regularly plastic packaging and then throw them away. However, petroleum-based materials (such as PET) do not degrade organically.
What is biodegradation?
Wood, grass, and wood completely decompose in the soil relatively quickly. food waste. Biodegradation is the name of a process that destroys complex substances as a result of the activity of living organisms (for example, earthworms or bacteria). In practice, microorganisms transform organic materials (paper, cardboard, weeds, vegetable and fruit residues) into other useful compounds suitable for increasing soil fertility. 
Ecology in danger
However, neither bacteria nor worms will want to deal with plastic. You can conduct an experiment in a compost bin garden plot. Load one side with organic materials for these little gluttons and fill the other with plastic bags and bottles. Be sure to water well and then cover with a layer of soil. When checking the condition of the compost pit during the summer, you will find crumbly humus on one side. On the other hand, your “gifts” will remain untouched. Decomposition of plastic in best case scenario will happen in 200 years. 
Daniel Bird's discovery
Of course, this is not the end of the story. Behind last years several have been registered in scientific circles outstanding discoveries. For example, Daniel Bird, a student at the University of Waterloo, proved that certain types of bacteria can destroy plastic. His research won the top prize at the Canada-wide Science Fair, earning the young scientist $10,000 in cash and a $20,000 scholarship.
Photoaging process
And while other researchers are replicating Byrd’s experiment and waiting for the results, let’s look for others possible methods plastic decomposition. The only one in a real way decomposition of this material can be considered a process of photoaging, which requires a lot sunlight, not bacteria. When UV rays penetrate plastic, they break the bonds that hold this long polymer chain together. It will take a long time, but someday big piece plastic will disintegrate into many small elements. 
Finding a solution to the problem
Landfills are filled with polyethylene terephthalate products, but most of them are safely hidden from sunlight. Exists Alternative option attempts to decompose plastic, which is unlikely to please environmentalists. The world's oceans absorb tons of waste, and water allows ultraviolet rays to penetrate into the very depths. Researchers from Nihon University (Japan) concluded in 2007 that plastic immersed in warm ocean water begins to lose its structure within a year. 
The oceans are like a garbage dump
You will not notice anything reprehensible in this until you remember sea creatures. Hidden within these microscopic pieces of decomposing plastic are toxic substances. When these toxins enter the intestines of animals, they can cause death marine fauna. Well, the tides throw decaying pieces of plastic onto the sea beaches. Vacationers think that they are going to the sea to improve their health, but their health suffers. 
How can I solve this problem?
One way to prevent biological disaster is to use biodegradable plastic. Currently, food packaging is being developed from corn and polylactic acid, which breaks down into carbon dioxide and water for a period of 50 to 90 days.
If you accidentally drop a bottle of water at your feet, you will breathe a sigh of relief, thinking “how good it is that scientists have invented such a practical material as plastic.” After all, if it weren’t for him, the floor would have been filled with liquid, and you risked stepping on sharp fragments.
Imagine that you went hiking and, of course, took mineral water with you in a plastic bottle. After a few hours, all the water is used up and the unnecessary plastic can be thrown away. But here’s the problem - there’s not a single trash can around, and the thought creeps into my head: “should I throw this bottle somewhere here - sooner or later the plastic will decompose.” But a responsible and sensible person would never do that. Organic materials such as wood, when buried in soil, are quickly decomposed and turned into compost by bacteria. But when it comes to plastic, bacteria won't help with its decomposition.
It may seem like an abandoned plastic bottle will take forever to decompose, but of course this is not the case. There,…
Is there a Pacific Ocean a continent made of garbage? What geological era are we living in? Is it true that a plastic bag thrown in the forest will remain there forever? And should we be afraid of the garbage end of the world? The elder answers these questions Researcher INEOS RAS, Candidate of Chemical Sciences Ivan Bushmarinov.
Readers of this text have probably heard an environmental “horror story” about the fact that plastics are not biodegradable and, for example, a bag left in the forest will remain there forever, have seen photographs of sea animals mutilated by bags, and perhaps even know about one drifting somewhere in the Pacific Ocean continent of garbage. Indeed, every year humanity produces 200-300 million tons of various plastics, most of which under standard conditions of the land part of the Earth does not decompose biological organisms(in fact, this is why they are produced - to package, isolate, protect from bacteria). But with the way plastic travels through the global ecosystem of the Earth (conditions in...
How long does it take for plastic to decompose?
Recently alone good man opened my eyes. There are problems in our world other than eating better and sleeping better.
Well done to those who remove plastic and save the environment
After all, about 40% of all waste in the world comes from product packaging!
We humans have become like pigs. Even worse.
Because our waste destroys all life around us. As an example, plastic.
Today I just bought something for the house at the Magnit store, and it all turned out to be plastic. At the same time, at the checkout I was offered to buy a plastic bag for this as well.
I came home and started looking at plastic all around.
What's most offensive is that there is a lot of “heavy” plastic. The bag will decompose in the ground in 100-200 years, but heavy plastic for storage food products or containers for chemicals can last 500 years. Even a thousand.
In addition, when decomposing, plastic releases terrible chemical substances, poisoning the soil and everything around.
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