Why biodegradable bags do not dissolve in nature, but paper does not a worthy alternative plastic and how to choose the least of the “packaging” evils.

The responsible consumer is constantly looking for alternatives that are least harmful to the environment, especially when it comes to disposable products. Let's figure out whether the biodegradable bags that we are offered in the store are such.

Photos from open sources

What is biodegradation?

Biodegradation is the process of breaking down organic materials into environmentally friendly substances through bacteria or other biological processes. Organic material can break down aerobically (with oxygen) or anaerobically (without oxygen). On this moment There is no clear definition of the term "biodegradable" when applied to a product as a whole, as there are testing standards only for individual components.

What plastics biodegrade?

Biodegradable plastics – This is not a specific type of plastic, but a large family of different polymers. These polymers are made from plant materials and decompose into carbon dioxide and water. The raw materials for this plastic are corn, wheat, sugar cane and other plants. Biodegradable plastics also include polymers chemically synthesized from plant-derived monomers, such as polylactide (PLA). A number of plastics biodegrade natural conditions(e.g. starch-based plastics). Other plastics, such as polylactide, require elevated temperature and humidity. The necessary conditions achieved through industrial composting; under natural conditions, such plastic can also decompose in a compost heap.

Photos from open sources

Biodegradable plastics include the so-called oxo-degradable ones. Oxo-degradable plastics are polyethylene with the addition of transition metal salts: cobalt, nickel, iron. The decomposition of such plastics under natural conditions occurs in two stages. At the first stage, under the influence of light and oxygen, the plastic product decomposes into small fragments of polyethylene and metal salts. The further fate of this plastic cannot be traced, although manufacturers claim that these fragments are broken down under the influence of microorganisms. At the same time, an independent study conducted in accordance with international standards, showed that within 350 days, only 15 percent of oxo-degradable polyethylene decomposes into carbon dioxide in the soil.

This means that a plastic bag that should have disappeared naturally has become a large number of small plastic pieces and granules, which can exacerbate the problem of environmental pollution. It turns out that plastic actually decomposes, but it is unsafe for nature. In Belarusian stores, we are almost always offered exactly these oxo-degradable bags, which can hardly be called truly degradable.

How to find bioplastic?

Biodegradable plastics can often be identified by special labeling.

On the bag you can find the inscription “Compostable” / “Compostable”. This means that such plastic decomposes under special composting conditions (industrial or home).

The label “Biodegradable” means that the bag may decompose in nature, but it is not always known whether it is safe to disappear. At the moment, this label may also hide oxoplastic, which turns into microplastic.

Biodegradable plastics can be labeled with the number 7 in a triangle. The nuance is that the number 7 can indicate all new and little-studied plastics. That is, if you see 7 in a triangle, you may have either biodegradable plastic or some other plastic, including non-recyclable plastic. In order to obtain more detailed information about the type of plastic, you should carefully study the packaging.

Why is bioplastic not eco-friendly?

The raw materials for the production of biodegradable plastics are usually plant crops that we use as food (corn, wheat, sugar cane). That is, plastic production competes for raw materials with food production. As arable land shrinks and water resources this question may become decisive when making decisions about the further production of biodegradable plastics.

Photos from open sources

When purchasing products made from “dissolvable” plastics, it is important to understand what their further fate in our conditions.

Thus, biodegradable plastic only decomposes under certain conditions, which, as a rule, do not exist in our landfills. To properly dispose of biodegradable bags, they must be composted. Since there are no enterprises in Belarus that engage in industrial composting, this can only be organized at your own site. “Pseudo-degradable” oxoplastics naturally break down into smaller pieces of plastic, which leads to additional problems. Oxoplastics are also not recyclable, as they contain additives that reduce the mechanical strength of polyethylene. Therefore, the only way to dispose of such plastics is to throw them away along with other non-recyclable waste in a landfill.

Another important disadvantage of biodegradable bags is that their production requires a lot of energy and water, the use of valuable organic crops, which leads to higher production costs. However, they still do not decompose in landfills.

Why is paper packaging not the solution?

Paper bags are also a poor alternative to disposable packaging. Paper production uses virgin wood and, although it is a renewable resource, it is irrational to waste it on bags. Such production also requires large amounts of electricity and water. And most importantly: paper production produces large amounts of toxic wastewater.

Photo Recyclemag.ru

In addition, as practice shows, a paper bag can only be used once - it is fragile.

Perhaps the only advantage is that the paper is recycled and can rot in natural conditions without harm. However, here too it is important to remember that paper bags with inserts of other materials (for example, with plastic elements, metal eyelets, decorative elements), laminated, corrugated and do not have this advantage.

Many consumers are specifically looking for bags made from biodegradable materials in an effort to reduce their environmental impact. However, retail stores often sell oxo-degradable bags under the guise of being biodegradable. Over time, such bags crumble into dust, the further fate of which is unknown, however, just as it is unknown how dangerous this plastic dust is for humans and the environment. The only truly environmentally friendly alternative can only be a reusable rag bag: it will serve you for a long time, and after it ends up in a landfill, it will not cause any damage. environment as harmful as a plastic bag. If you are in a desperate situation and have to buy a plastic bag, try to use it for as long as possible.

about the author

Maria Suma, employee of the environmentally friendly lifestyle program of the Center for Environmental Solutions

Ecologist. Engaged in the development of the Green Map project (Greenmap.by). Promotes the “zero waste” concept in Belarus: advocates for the prevention of waste generation and the use of harmless waste management practices.

Details Published: January 29, 2016

Plastic degradation has become one of the the most pressing problems modernity, since the planet faces a very real danger of completely “drowning” in mountains of plastic bottles and plastic bags.

IN Pacific Ocean has already formed near Indonesia the whole continent from plastic bottles and other waste, exceeding in size the largest island - Greenland. And the production of plastic products and plastic containers is growing and growing - only over the last 10 years in Russia, its production volumes have increased 10 times.

Classification of additives that accelerate the decomposition of plastic

• Oxo-additives speed up the crushing of bags into small pieces, which are no longer so harmful to animals. All toxic properties are preserved, and the complete decomposition of these small pieces is not accelerated.
• Additives that accelerate the breakdown of polymer molecular chains under the influence of sunlight, a certain air temperature, moisture and other activating factors. The decomposition period of polyethylene with such additives is accelerated to 5 years.
• Additives that cause the release of carbon and hydrogen molecules from plastic, which are already freely absorbed by bacteria and fungi.
• Finally, biopolymer is a plastic made from plant waste, such as corn stalks. This is the most harmless and quickly degradable version of polymers today.

How long does it take for different types of plastic to decompose without additives?

Plastic decomposition occurs with at different speeds depending on its composition. Decomposes most quickly plastic bags- about 100 years in the soil. Products made from polypropylene and other types of food and non-food plastic take much longer to decompose. The period for their complete decomposition in the soil is at least 500 years. For comparison, the decomposition period of aluminum cans is 500 years, tin cans - 100 years, bones - from 10 years. The decomposition period of plastic in water increases many times and is not even known exactly. Plastic bags floating in water cause massive deaths of fish and birds. But that is not all. During decomposition, plastic releases toxic substances into the environment that poison the soil and water (styrene, formaldehyde, phenol, chlorprene, urethane, etc.).

What other options are offered to solve the problem?

• Stopping food production plastic containers and plastic bags following the example of China and India.
• Further development of so-called biopolymers, that is, plastic that quickly decomposes in natural conditions without releasing toxic substances.
• Changing the composition of household polymers to reversible ones (those that can be melted down many times).
• Breeding a special type of bacteria that will process and neutralize plastic residues in special storage facilities. It is proposed to remove such bacteria using the method of genetic modification.

Every day we see abandoned bottles, leftover food, plastic bags, paper and plastic cups and other garbage that was simply left on the street.

Sometimes it seems to us that in another day it will be removed and it will begin to decompose in a landfill. But, firstly, not everywhere garbage is removed in a timely manner, and secondly, some garbage can take thousands of years to decompose.

How long does it take for garbage to decompose?

Scientists have already proven that plastic bottles and bags can last hundreds, thousands and even millions of years without decomposing.
Here's a list of the things we throw away and how long it takes for that trash to decompose.

Paper and food waste

2 weeks
Apple cores and other fruit remains.

Even though it takes a relatively short time to decompose, leftover food on the ground can attract unwanted "friends" such as rats.

About 1 month
Paper napkins, paper bags, newspapers, paper towels.

The time it takes for these items to decompose can vary greatly, as it depends on how you disposed of this type of waste.

6 weeks
Cereal boxes, paper bags, banana peels.

Banana peels may take longer to decompose if the weather is cooler. Since the peel is designed to preserve the freshness of the fruit, it contains a lot of cellulose - the same material that cellophane bags are made from.

Some conservationists warn that the peels of some fruits, including banana peels, can take several months to decompose. Even if a product is natural, this does not mean that it decomposes quickly.

2 to 3 months
Cardboard packaging for milk and juices and other types of cardboard.

The decomposition time of cardboard primarily depends on its thickness. It is worth noting that some cartons may contain chemical materials, which significantly slow down the decomposition process.

6 months
Cotton clothes and paper books.

Of all types of fabrics, cotton decomposes the fastest, as it is natural. If thrown into a landfill cotton fabric quite thin, then in warm weather it can decompose in as little as a week.

1 year
Woolen clothes (sweaters, socks).

Wool - natural product and can degrade relatively quickly. Moreover, when wool decomposes, it releases elements beneficial to the soil, such as keratins. This product cannot be completely considered garbage, as it does not cause long-term harm to the environment.

2 years
Orange peels, plywood, cigarette butts (although some studies indicate that cigarette butts can take more than 10 years to decompose).

Up to 5 years
Heavy wool clothing, such as a coat or overcoat.

Plastic trash

Up to 20 years
Plastic bags. But research shows that in some cases plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to decompose.

Many new plastic bags are designed to degrade quickly when exposed to direct sunlight.
Yet most plastic bags are made from high-density polyethylene. Microorganisms in the soil do not perceive the chemicals that make up the bag as food, and therefore they do not participate in its decomposition.

30-40 years
Products containing nylon: tights, windbreakers, carpets, diapers. Some scientists believe that such products can take up to 500 years to decompose, depending on environmental conditions.

Even though diapers are quite convenient, they are also quite toxic, even if you haven't used them yet. They are treated with a variety of chemicals such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and dipentene, as well as a chemical called dioxin, which is a highly toxic carcinogen.

Metal debris, rubber, leather

50 years
Cans, car tires, foam glasses, leather.

Leather can be treated chemically (as in the case of elements fashionable clothes) and can take much longer to decompose.
The thick leather used to make shoes can take 80 years to decompose.

Decomposition of polyethylene

From 70 to 80 years
Rustling plastic bags (from chips and packaging, for example).

Despite the fact that a person eats the contents of a bag of chips very quickly, the bags themselves take quite a long time to decompose. For example, one US resident found an empty bag of chips on a beach in Devon, dated 1967, but the bag itself looked like it had been thrown away last week.

About 100 years
Products made of polyethylene.

Of course, decomposition time depends on the density and structure of the product. For example, regular plastic bags from the store can take about 100 years to decompose.
Also in the category of things that can decompose for more than a century include plastic bottles and various plastic containers and bowls.
It is worth noting that small polyethylene parts can pose a choking hazard to animals.

Aluminum decomposition

About 200 years
Aluminum cans (for beer or soda, for example).

In this case, everything also depends on the density of the material and its structure. In the best case, such objects take 200 years to decompose, but this process can drag on for half a millennium.
It is worth noting that, like plastic products, such items are dangerous for small animals that can climb into an empty jar and get stuck in it.
These cans can be recycled many times and this process requires much less energy than creating a new can. Using the same amount of energy, you can make 20 recycled cans or 1 new aluminum can.

Recycling aluminum cans

Plastic decomposition

Do you know how many years it takes for plastic, paper, food waste or diapers to decompose, without which it is difficult for a young mother to imagine life today? Look at these waste decomposition times and you'll see why we need to not only learn how to eat, but also reduce our consumption of products that produce waste.

Let's take a look at how long it takes different types of waste to decompose. Of course, it should also be taken into account that the time it takes for waste to decompose may depend on the conditions at landfills.

Let us also recall the shocking photo project of American photographer Greg Segal, which can be viewed at the link to see how much waste one family produces in a week.

How long does it take for plastic to decompose?

Plastic products are very common in our modern life. It is estimated that every year we use about 1.6 million barrels of oil just to produce plastic water bottles. Plastic waste is one of the many types of waste that takes too long to decompose.

As a rule, the decomposition time of plastic products can reach 1 thousand years. At the same time, plastic bags, which we often use in our daily lives, can decompose from 100 to 1 thousand years, and plastic bottles - from 450 years or more.

How long does it take for diapers to decompose?

How long does it take for an aluminum can to decompose?

Every minute, every day, more than 120 thousand aluminum cans are recycled in America alone.

But at the same time, in three months so many aluminum cans are thrown out there that it would be enough to rebuild the entire American air fleet.

Aluminum cans will take 80-200 years to decompose.

How long does it take for glass to decompose?

Glass is generally very easy to recycle, mainly because it is made from a natural material - sand. By melting glass products, we can produce new glass.

But the shocking fact is that if glass is thrown into landfills, it will take a million years to decompose. And according to other data, glass does not decompose in nature at all.

How long does it take for paper to decompose?

As a rule, the time it takes for paper to decompose is 2-6 weeks. But if we recycle waste paper, we not only save a lot of space in landfills, but also save trees from being cut down.

How long does it take for food waste to decompose?

By weight, food waste is the largest waste item in American landfills. The time it takes for food waste to break down depends on the type of food.

For example, orange peels take 6 months to decompose, but apple peels or banana peels will take about one month to decompose. This is why it is so important to sort waste.

How long does it take to decompose other types of waste?

Various sources give various information about how long it takes to settle different types garbage. But the numbers are not very different. We present them below:

• Cigarette butts - 10-12 years;
• Plastic cup - 50 years;
• Leather shoes - 25-40 years;
• Milk cardboard packaging - 5 years;
• Plywood - 1-3 years;
• Painted boards - 13 years;
• Cotton gloves - 3 months;
• Cardboard - 2 months;
• Polystyrene foam - does not decompose;
• Nylon fabric - 30-40 years;
• Tin can - 50 years;
• Rope - 3-14 months;
• Batteries - 100 years;
• Sanitary pads - 500-800 years (they can be replaced);
• Woolen clothes 1-5 years.

The increase in waste is a serious problem for humanity. The best way To combat this problem, avoid using products that produce waste and take more than a year to decompose.

Based on materials from thebalance.com

It's not for nothing that different countries Around the world, it is customary to sort garbage that residents throw away, and in some of them you can get a fine for improper sorting. Why were such laws passed? developed countries peace? The reason is simple: many types of waste do not decompose for very long, or during decomposition they cause irreparable harm environment, which is why they are destroyed or processed in a special way. We present to you the decomposition times of various types of household waste.

1. Animal droppings - decomposition period 10-15 days

The least harmful garbage that can be seen on the streets of small towns and villages, however, it causes a lot of trouble for residents.

2. Food waste - decomposition period 30 days

Potato peelings, meat trimmings and everything that remains edible after cooking can be classified as this type of garbage. Also not that dangerous.

3. Newsprint - decomposition period 1-4 months

Before you throw the newspaper on the road, think that for another 4 whole months the residents of your yard will admire the paper trampled into the dirt.

4. Leaves, seeds, twigs - decomposition period is 3-4 months

If public utilities did not remove natural debris from parks, people would soon be walking through mountains of branches and leaves.

5. Cardboard boxes - decomposition period 3 months

It is completely harmless waste if you throw it in trash cans.

6. Office paper - decomposition period 2 years

Yes, imagine that. It's all about composition and density: paper is made precisely so that documents printed on it can be stored for a long time, which, unfortunately, does not ignore the period of its decomposition.

7. Boards - decomposition period 10 years

Ordinary boards that are used on construction sites. Of course, if they are not subject to any processing (for example, impregnation with fuel oil).

8. Iron cans - decomposition period 10 years

Like boards, cans of stewed meat or condensed milk will rot in the ground for another 10 years after you throw them under a tree in the forest.

9. Old shoes - decomposition period is 10 years

Everything here, of course, depends on the composition of the shoe and the degree of its wear, but on average, shoes made of leatherette will decompose within a tenth of a century.

10. Fragments of brick and concrete - decomposition period is 100 years

This is exactly the garbage that every development company prefers to bury under the playground in the courtyard of the house. Yes, they do this quite often. Perhaps this is justified: after all, the “Stalin” ones have already been standing for 80 years =)

11. Car batteries - decomposition period is 100 years

This kind of waste is, of course, more profitable to recycle. After all, for 1 used battery (20-25 kg) you can earn about 500 rubles.

12. Foil - decomposition period more than 100 years

Yes, despite the fact that the thickness of the iron leaf is less than 0.5 mm, it is very strongly compressed. So don't throw away the packaging from yours. meat products on hikes.

13. Electric batteries - decomposition period 110 years

Here, not only the decomposition period plays a role, but also the harm to the environment that a lithium battery causes when it oxidizes. A lot of charitable organizations, fighting for the cleanliness of the planet, offer to save batteries so that they can later come and take them from you.

14. Rubber tires - decomposition period 120-140 years

Rubber is one of the most durable materials. Fortunately, when changing tires at a service station, most drivers leave their old ones as a gift, or for a symbolic price there. And smart service holders then hand it over for recycling.

15. Plastic bottles - decomposition period is 180-200 years

Plastic is also highly dangerous and toxic, not to mention that it is not very pleasant to look at the side of the roads strewn with empty plastic bottles from .

16. Aluminum cans - decomposition period 500 years

Almost the most dangerous garbage. It takes a long time to decompose and releases harmful substances when oxidized, it predominates on our planet.

17. Glass - decomposition period is more than 1000 years

No one knows how much of it is already packed in our holiday destinations. Just think: a millennium! At least another 12-15 generations will enjoy our fragments.