THE DECOMPOSITION RATE OF MARINE DEBRIS
Glass Bottle – 1 million years
Mono filament fishing line – 600 years
Plastic beverage bottles – 450 years
Disposable diapers – 450 years
Aluminum can – 80-200 years
Foamed plastic buoy – 80 years
Rubber boat sole – 50-80 years
Foamed plastic cup – 50 years
Tin can – 50 years
Leather – 50 years
Nylon Fabric – 30-40 years
Plastic film canister – 20-30 years
Plastic Bag – 10-20 years
Cigarette filter – 1-50 years
Wool sock – 1-5 years
Plywood – 1-3 years
Waxed milk carton – 3 months
Apple core – 2 months
Newspaper – 6 weeks
Orange or banana peel – 2-5 weeks
Paper towel – 2-4 weeks
REFERENCE:
PROJECT AWARE’S Marine Debris Fact-sheet
“From Pocket Guide… to Marine Debris,” The Ocean Conservancy, 2004.
Sources: U.S National Park Service; Mote Marine Lab, FL and “Garbage In, Garbage Out”
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HI YA!!
PEACE OUT