According to a World Bank report, it is estimated that, in developed countries, one person generates an average 1 kg of waste per day: cans, plastic, glass, electro-domestic equipment, etc. An environmental problem that becomes even more complicated if, as well as producing waste, we discard it irresponsibly and anywhere. We are not, unfortunately, talking about sporadic behavior here: this conduct that clutters fields, rivers and oceans, has a name: littering (abandonment of waste).
A cigarette butt discarded on the beach, because the waste bin is too far from your towel, or a plastic bottle forgotten in the countryside which, for the poor memory of its owner is destined to stay there for years, are just two examples of the waste that fouls nature, one of the biggest problems faced in biodiversity conservation.
In fact, 80% of the trash that causes the pollution of the sea comes from the waste we throw away, not just on the coast but also inland, from where it travels down the rivers and washes up into the sea.
Without human intervention, nature would have no waste. Natural elements fulfil a function and are reused in one way or another for their usefulness in different stages, cyclically. A chewing gum or tin, however, cannot take part in this cycle after being abandoned in the countryside, and it remains there for years, in some cases centuries.
What kind of time periods are we talking about? The following infographic explains how long it takes various forms of waste to descompose once they have been discarded to nature, from a simple scrap of paper to an aluminum can:
All these discarded items, with improperlywaste management, represent one of the most important pollution problems facing the planet. In the worst of cases, they filter into the food chain of birds and fish, of which humans form part.
The following alarming figures speak for themselves: 4.8 million tons of plastic, discarded on land, ends up in the sea each year; as a result, at least 267 species are trapped in plastic waste or swallow it, says the United Nations, and it is estimated that, in 2050, 99% of sea birds will have eaten some type of toxic waste in their lifetime. Because of this, it is very important the plastic recycling. Let’s see how they are affected by the different kinds of litter:
Irrespective of size, every butt left on the beach or in the countryside is harmful waste polluting the environment in many ways and lasts 10 years. According to the NGO SEO/BirdLife, a single butt can contaminate between 8 and 10 liters of water. But that’s not all: it could also end up in the stomach of an animal that cannot digest it.
Soft drink cans and canned food tins are made from aluminum, a material that can take between 10 and 100 years to decay, depending on the thickness, and which generates iron oxide. For this reason, it is important the waste recycling. The survival of species such as sea turtles, and many birds, is endangered when they are caught in the rings of these tins.
In this category, we encounter many formats and variants invading the planet’s landscapes and oceans, resulting in what we now know as garbage patches or trash islands. Water bottles, for example, lead the way as far as longevity is concerned; numerous studies suggest they can take up to 1,000 years to degrade. During all this time, the sun is able to crack them and break them up into fragments, converting each item into a host of microplastic debris that birds and fish often end up eating. Chewing gum, for its part, is made up of 80% plastic. As small as a piece might seem, it is estimated it would need five years to disappear and now consists of one of the waste products species most often confuse as food.
A frightening 4,000 years is how long it takes a glass bottle to decompose in the environment. Every time we leave a recipient of this kind in the countryside, we are putting the environment and its ecosystem at risk. As occurs with many of the elements above, animals can cut themselves on glass or ingest it without being able to digest it. It is also a very dangerous fire risk factor. Paradoxically, while it is one of the most polluting and longest substances in degrading naturally, glass is completely recyclable and does not generate waste in the process. It is transformed into a product with the same characteristics without losing its properties, thus the importance of sending each product we use for recycling.
But what can we do to reduce the problem? We have found an important solution by copying nature: nature throws nothing away but is able to use and reuse its elements. This cyclical model is the inspiration for the circular economy, one of the most effective weapons for fighting waste pollution. The philosophy of the circular economy is to reduce production and instead opt to reuse the elements that, for their properties, cannot return to the environment, converting such waste into a resource.
Another essential solution resides in each citizen taking responsibility for recycling, since waste such as aluminum, glass, paper and carton can have the opportunity of a new life through transformation. Also, however, certain public and private initiatives, by companies like Terracycle, are collecting waste difficult to recycle, such as cigarette ends and coffee capsules, and giving them a new use.
Waste abandoned to nature puts at risk the equilibrium of the ecosystem and the lives of over 15,000 animal species. Do you think we can do something to change this?
Source: Naciones Unidas, Word Bank y SEO
Surely glass is biodegradable, right? I mean, glass is made from sand, so surely it would biodegrade.
Well, it might not be as simple as you think!
Is Glass Biodegradable?
Non-biodegradable materials like glass do not decompose quickly. In fact, glass bottles can stay intact in the environment for hundreds of years. It’s thought glass bottles will never biodegrade, but they will break down slowly.
Here’s the thing:
People get confused when it comes to glass; it’s easy to think any natural material is biodegradable. That’s not always the case, the glass may not be able to biodegrade, but it can degrade.
Just because a living substance can’t break it down, doesn’t mean other natural forces can’t get the job done.
Physical forces can break it down.
For example:
Wind
Water
Human influence
Considering they are the only factors that can break glass down, it’s surprising it decomposes at all.
If it’s not Biodegradable, then how long does it take to decompose? Will it be in our lifetime?
How Long Does Glass Take To Decompose?
I mentioned earlier that glass could decompose and it can, but it’s not quick.
Broken glass has been found dating back to 2000 B.C exist.
That’s the same time the Egyptians were alive!
The thing is, it wasn’t designed to break down, unlike its biodegradable plastic friend.
The biodegradable plastic glass is designed to break down but often doesn’t for many years.
The problem is 28% of glass bottles in the US never reach the processing plants, and this means millions of ton going to landfills every year.
Is Glass Bad For The Environment?
Twenty years ago, maybe, but now it’s using less fuel in production and transporting than ever before. Good news for the planet.
Every six tons of glass recycled can reduce emissions by 1 ton, and the huge benefit is that it can be recycled endlessly into any product.
Great news for the planet! That means fewer emissions then you’d get from biodegradable plastics.
So, I know it’s not biodegradable, but it is better for the environment than using plastic materials. The main advantage is that it doesn’t leave toxins that could end up in our food.
Not only is it better than biodegradable plastics, but it more environmentally friendly than paper (see our is paper biodegradable article) as it uses no chemicals when being produced.
Is there any material more eco-friendly?
Of course, there is, but it beats biodegradable plastics and paper materials hands down.
How Do I Recycle Glass?
Recycling is an excellent way of keeping glass out of the growing mounds of waste we create. Recycled Glass can be continually reused, making countless amounts of bottles.
The green glass is usually made with around 70% re-purposed materials. But how do you recycle it correctly?
Most trash services offer a collection service for recycled materials. If there isn’t one close, you could always go to a recycling plant your self.
For your health, be careful not to break the glass, it can be dangerous!
To finish it off, no, it’s not biodegradable. But, it is a lot better than biodegradable plastic!
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Frequently Asked questions
Is Glass Eco-Friendly?
Glass is eco-friendly, to a certain extent. Recycled glass can be both impermeable and food-safe. Most glass products are made using recycled glass due to the environmentally friendly benefits.
Is Glass Worse Than Plastic?
Glass is not worse than plastic, but it does have it’s downsides. To start with glass is heavier than plastic, which means more emissions are used when transporting glass. This means glass also costs more than plastic.
Is It OK To Recycle Broken Glass?
No, broken glass cannot be recycled. It’s down to it being a hazard for the workers. You should dispose of broken glass by wrapping it paper and placing it in the trash.