We had a great response to our fact sheet on the Do’s and Dont’s of composting, so we thought we’d make up another guide about how long it takes for the average, non-compostable waste to fully break down. The results will shock you, but hopefully spark an urge to collectively clean up our act and leave the world a better place for future generations.
Decomposition Time
10-12 Years
Does not biodegrade
1-3 Years
50 Years
3-14 Months
80-100 Weeks
2 Weeks
100 Years
500-800 Years
Does not biodegrade
1-5 Years
25-40 weeks
2 Months
30-40 Years
450 Years
2-6 Weeks
Waste Item
Cigarette Butts
Styrofoam
Plywood
Tin
Rope
Aluminium cans
Cardboard tickets
Batteries
Sanitary pads
Tin foil
Wool clothing
Leather
Cardboard
Nylon fabric
Plastic bottles
Paper (can be composted)
As you can see, our rubbish is here to stay, but we can help reduce the amount of waste to landfill by making conscious decisions about our waste consumption.
It takes courage to be a conscious consumer!