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When Will it Decompose? – Infographic

 by General Kinematics,

We’ve heard it a million times – reduce, reuse, recycle. But really, what’s the point? Doesn’t everything just decompose eventually?

 

Eventually. Well, I suppose that’s ONE word for it!

 

Check out these stats to see how long it takes for common, every day items to decompose.

 

When will it decompose

 

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Let’s recap:

  • Banana peel: 2-4 weeks (well that’s not so bad)
  • Cardboard: 2 months (neither is that!)
  • Paper bag: 1 month (hmm … interesting)
  • Wool sock: 1 year (I never really thought of a wool sock like that before)
  • Aluminum can: 300 years (really?)
  • Diaper: 550 years (ummm …)
  • Plastic Bag: 1,000 years (yikes)
  • Glass: 1 million years (no way!)
  • Styrofoam cup: 2+ million years (uh-oh, we’re in trouble)

 

Well, I guess maybe we should join the party and keep spreading the word about the 3 Rs. If your town doesn’t have a recycling center, it’s time to get one! Contact General Kinematics for help.

 

Sources:

https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-recycling

http://www.csuohio.edu/sustainability/fun-stuff-and-fast-facts

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General Kinematics Corporation, incorporated in 1960, was established to market, design, and custom fabricate innovative vibratory equipment for the foundry, recycling, mining, and processing industries. Today the company continues as one of the world’s largest suppliers of vibratory processing equipment and has evolved into an industry-leading EPC firm. Headquartered in Crystal Lake, IL, General Kinematics has seven global locations providing engineering and support to a world-wide customer base. GK is a third generation, family-owned company and is ISO 9001 certified.