How Long Does it Take for Our Trash to Breakdown?
Indicative lengths of biodegradation:
| Napkins | 1 - 3 weeks |
| Traffic Ticket | 2 - 4 weeks |
| Banana/Orange Peel | 2 - 5 weeks |
| Paper Bag | 1 month |
| Paper | 2 - 5 months |
| Newspaper | 3 - 6 months |
| Carry-out Tray | 3 - 9 months |
| Rope | 3 - 14 months |
| Carry-out Food Bag | 4 - 8 months |
| Cotton Rag | 5 months |
| Bamboo Pole | 1 - 3 years |
| Wool Clothing | 1 - 5 years |
| Cigarette | 1 - 12 years |
| Styrofoam cups | 1 - 100 years |
| Plastic-Coated Paper | 5 years |
| Plastic bags | 10 - 20 years |
| Painted Wooden Stake | 13 years |
| Plastic Film Container | 20 - 30 years |
| Nylon Fabric | 30 - 40 years |
| Leather Boot | 40 - 50 years |
| Rubber Sole (of a boot) | 50 - 80 years |
| Leather | up to 50 years |
| Plastic Bottles | 70 - 450 years |
| Tin Can (soup or vegetable can) | 80 - 100 years |
| Aluminum cans | 200 - 500 years |
| Plastic 6-pack Rings | 450 years |
| Diapers | 500 - 800 years |
| Plastic Jug | 1 million years |
| Glass Bottle | unknown? forever? |