tin can = 100 years to break down
aluminum can= 200-500 years to break down
plastic= 1 million years
Styrofoam= indefinite. scientists aren't even sure if it CAN be broken down
tin can = 100 years to break down
aluminum can= 200-500 years to break down
plastic= 1 million years
Styrofoam= indefinite. scientists aren't even sure if it CAN be broken down
My oceanography teacher last year was saying how plastic needed to be banned. So much of it ends up in the ocean and causes damage, like killing animals. I wish they could find a substitute for plastic that is biodegradable.
^^^Me too, then again the way its made isnt too environmentally friendly. I think the world really needs to take a step backwards, but most people aint really going to want to and is it possible? Hmm...





What's worse is actually the green bags that are used frequently here in Australia by shops (not just supermarkets anymore)... they can be worse than a plastic bag in a way as when they break or need to be discarded... they just take up room in the landfill.. and I think take just as long to break down as a plastic bag.
enter: E3167322D9 for your 10% discount





^^^Green bags are a stupid con. I use cotton ones.
In other areas of life though its just harder and harder to avoid plastic. Makes me want to run back to Nimbin and live in the hills sometimes...





From the last page of Lush Times:
Regular plastic bags are a thing of the past now that we secure our items in bio-degradable plastic bags that start degrading after 18 months. About 4 months later, the bags degrade to a size where nature's natural enzymes break it down even more. Not bad when you consider that this process takes an average of 25 years with regular plastic bags!
So it's even better than I thought. Not 25 years.
Because there ain't no tits on the radio
Biodegradable plastic bags are often made from farmed products like cornstarch, which, in the right conditions, will break down into elements like carbon dioxide, water and methane. Biodegradable bags are generally best suited to composting and may contribute to methane emissions if sent to landfill. To meet international standards, bags need to compost within 12 weeks and fully biodegrade within 6 months. Biodegradable bags are not suited to recycling.
Other degradable plastic bags break down primarily through the reaction of a chemical additive to oxygen, light or heat and are also known as 'oxodegradable' bags. Best suited to landfill disposal, they are also likely to survive long enough to present a threat to animals if littered. As it may take time for them to break down completely, they may pose a threat to animals who mistake the pieces for food. These bags can be recycled.
It's important to understand the difference between these bags and the impact they can have on the environment. Replacement of normal plastic with degradable and biodegradable bags is not encouraged by governments as part of the planned phase-out, as neither is a solution to plastic bag litter.
Standards Australia is currently developing Australian Standards for degradable (including biodegradable) plastics. In time, these may help you to be sure the bags you're buying are as degradable as they claim.
Meanwhile, ask your supplier some detailed questions to make sure you get what you want:
* What are the bags made from and how do they degrade?
* How long will the bags take to break down in their intended disposal environment?
* Will my customers know how to dispose of them (e.g. are they clearly labelled as compostable or landfill compatible?
* Can the supplier provide you with data from any testing completed to back-up their claims about degradability? For example, does the product pass relevant international Standards, such as the European composting/biodegradability standard known as EN 13432.
Last edited by MsQwerty; 01-24-2008 at 05:44 PM. Reason: Didnt paste properly.
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