Posted by: Lauren | January 5, 2009

Why There Are Fines for Littering

How long does it take for an item to disintegrate? Here’s a list of a few different items of trash…

Paper traffic ticket: 2-4 weeks
Cotton rag: 1-5 months
Degradable polyethylene bag: 2-3 months
Piece of rope: 3-14 months
Wool stockings: 1 year
Bamboo pole: 1-3 years
Unpainted wooden stake: 1-4 years
Painted wooden stake: 13 years
Wooden light pole: 15-36 years
Railroad crosstie: 30 years
Tin or steel can: 100 years
Aluminum can: 200-500 years
Plastic six pack cover: 450 years


Responses

  1. We have picked up many of these items on our weekly sojourns around West Seattle, WA. Glad to hear that we’re getting many of this un-biodegradable junk out of the public environment!

    Check us out . One bucket of litter a week can help make the world a better place :)

    Happy Day!

    Ben

  2. Good job Ben and Inthebucket Team! Keep up the good work!

    Lauren

  3. thank you, LG. i will think about this next time i think about throwing my wooden light-pole out the window.


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