Decomposition Timeline

1. What is the decomposition time for aluminum foil?

Decomposition time: 50 years

Decomposition time: ~400 yearsAluminum foil is 100% recyclable, but it is difficult to find recycling facilities that accept aluminum foil because it is generally contaminated with food.

Decomposition time: 1000 years

Decomposition time: 10 years

Aluminum foil takes approximately 400 years to decompose, making it a long-lasting waste in landfills.

Explanation

Aluminum foil takes approximately 400 years to decompose, making it a long-lasting waste in landfills.

2. What is the decomposition time for a banana peel?

Decomposition time: 3-4 weeksA banana peel decomposing in a landfill releases methane gas because it doesn’t receive oxygen vs. a peel decomposing in a compost, which receives oxygen and releases CO2.

5-6 weeks

1-2 weeks

2-3 months

Banana peels generally take 3-4 weeks to decompose. In a landfill, the lack of oxygen leads to the release of methane gas during decomposition, while in a compost setting with oxygen, carbon dioxide is released.

Explanation

Banana peels generally take 3-4 weeks to decompose. In a landfill, the lack of oxygen leads to the release of methane gas during decomposition, while in a compost setting with oxygen, carbon dioxide is released.

3. What is the decomposition time of glass?

Decomposition time: 100 years

Decomposition time: 500,000 years

Decomposition time: 10 years

Decomposition time: 1 million yearsGlass is composed of silica sand.Glass can change in appearance after it is buried, with chemical reactions between the surrounding soil and the glass, but doesn’t weaken the glass or affect its decomposition rate. Glass can be recycled indefinitely without loss of strength.

4. What is the decomposition time for leather shoes?

Decomposition time: 10-15 years

Decomposition time: 5-8 years

Decomposition time: 75-100 years

Decomposition time: 40-50 yearsSince leather products are tanned and put through several chemical processes to preserve the material, decomposition is slow.

Since leather products are tanned and put through several chemical processes to preserve the material, decomposition is slow.

Explanation

Since leather products are tanned and put through several chemical processes to preserve the material, decomposition is slow.

5. What is the decomposition time of orange peels?

Decomposition time: 1-3 months

Decomposition time: 3-6 months

Decomposition time: 2-5 years

Decomposition time: 6 months- 2 yearsOrange peels are great natural insect repellants for compost.

Orange peels take longer to decompose compared to other organic waste due to their citrus oils and high water content.

Explanation

Orange peels take longer to decompose compared to other organic waste due to their citrus oils and high water content.

6. How long does it take for a paper bag to decompose?

Decomposition time: 1 year

Decomposition time: 1 monthBased on volume, paper is the largest element in American landfills. When temperatures are freezing, paper won’t decompose.

Decomposition time: 6 months

Decomposition time: 5 years

Paper bags typically decompose relatively quickly, within a month, due to the nature of paper material. This is much faster compared to other materials found in landfills.

Explanation

Paper bags typically decompose relatively quickly, within a month, due to the nature of paper material. This is much faster compared to other materials found in landfills.

7. What is the decomposition time of a paper cup?

50 years

5 years

Decomposition time: 20 yearsMost paper cups are coated with plastic or wax, therefore composting and recycling paper cups is uncommon because of the difficulty in separating the polyethylene required in the recycling process.

100 years

Most paper cups are coated with plastic or wax, making composting and recycling challenging due to the difficulty in separating the materials required in the recycling process.

Explanation

Most paper cups are coated with plastic or wax, making composting and recycling challenging due to the difficulty in separating the materials required in the recycling process.

8. How long does it take for a plastic bag to decompose?

50-100 years

Decomposition time: 20-1,000 yearsPlastic bags do not readily break down in the environment. Plastic bags photodegrade, a process by which the plastic breaks down into smaller toxic parts.Most recycling centers do not recycle plastic bags because they are difficult to recycle into new material.

1-10 years

Over 2,000 years

Plastic bags take a significant amount of time to decompose, contributing to environmental pollution.

Explanation

Plastic bags take a significant amount of time to decompose, contributing to environmental pollution.

9. How long does it take for a plastic bottle to decompose?

Decomposition time: 450-1,000 yearsBottles made with Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE) will never biodegrade. Since plastic is a synthetic material and relatively new, very few bacteria are able to biodegrade the plastic polymers into smaller molecules.

It decomposes within 5-10 years.

It decomposes within 50-100 years.

It decomposes within a few months.

Plastic bottles made with Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE) do not biodegrade and can take 450-1,000 years to decompose, if at all.

Explanation

Plastic bottles made with Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE) do not biodegrade and can take 450-1,000 years to decompose, if at all.

10. What is the decomposition time for plastic soda can rings?

50 years

700 years

Decomposition time: 450 yearsPlastic soda can rings are “photodegradable”- they degrade, or break down, when exposed to light.

200 years

Plastic soda can rings actually take around 450 years to decompose, as they are photodegradable and break down when exposed to light.

Explanation

Plastic soda can rings actually take around 450 years to decompose, as they are photodegradable and break down when exposed to light.

11. What is the decomposition time of plastic straws?

Decomposition time: 1-5 years

Decomposition time: 50-100 years

Decomposition time: 1000+ years

Decomposition time: 200-500 yearsPlastic straws do not biodegrade, they simply photodegrade into smaller pieces that are easily ingested by animals and passed throughout the food chain.Only a very small percentage of recycled plastic straws will actually be recycled.

Plastic straws take a significantly long time to decompose, posing serious environmental hazards due to their persistence in the ecosystem.

Explanation

Plastic straws take a significantly long time to decompose, posing serious environmental hazards due to their persistence in the ecosystem.

12. What is the decomposition time of Styrofoam?

Decomposition time: 50-100 years

Decomposition time: 200-300 years

Decomposition time: 10-20 years

Decomposition time: 500 years-foreverStyrofoam is the primary source of urban litter and the main pollutant of oceans, bays, and other U.S. water sources.Styrofoam is resistant to photodegradation.

Styrofoam takes an extremely long time to decompose, ranging from 500 years to potentially forever, making it a major environmental pollutant.

Explanation

Styrofoam takes an extremely long time to decompose, ranging from 500 years to potentially forever, making it a major environmental pollutant.

13. What is the decomposition time of a soup can?

1-5 years

10-20 years

Decomposition time: 50-100 yearsSoup cans are primarily made of steel with a thin layer of tin coating on their insides, stopping the can from corroding and keeping the soup fresh. Many modern cans are lined with bisphenol-A (BPA) instead.Steel from cans and other sources is the most recycled packaging material, but BPA can prevent these cans from being recycled.

200-300 years

Soup cans are primarily made of steel with a thin layer of tin coating on their insides, which affects their decomposition time.

Explanation

Soup cans are primarily made of steel with a thin layer of tin coating on their insides, which affects their decomposition time.

14. How long does it take for a wool sock to decompose?

Decomposition time: 100-200 years. Wool decomposes slowly compared to other materials.

Decomposition time: 50-100 years. Wool decomposes slowly due to its high durability.

Decomposition time: 6-12 months. Wool breaks down quickly due to its natural fibers.

Decomposition time: 1-5 yearsWool biodegrades well because it has a high percentage of nitrogen.

Wool socks decompose relatively quickly (1-5 years) due to the high percentage of nitrogen they contain, which aids in biodegradation.

Explanation

Wool socks decompose relatively quickly (1-5 years) due to the high percentage of nitrogen they contain, which aids in biodegradation.

15. What is the decomposition time for cotton rags?

Decomposition time: 2 months

Decomposition time: 5 monthsMade of cellulose-- the main constituent of plant cell walls and of vegetable fibers-- and is therefore easily biodegradable, minus any chemicals added to the fabric.

Decomposition time: 10 years

Decomposition time: 1 year

Cotton rags have a decomposition time of 5 months due to being made of cellulose, which makes them easily biodegradable.

Explanation

Cotton rags have a decomposition time of 5 months due to being made of cellulose, which makes them easily biodegradable.