How long does it take to decompose the plastic?

When you accidentally drop a bottle of ketchup on the floor, you mentally thank the manufacturer for the plastic packaging. In the production of most containers, cups and bottles, polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, is used. This is a material that practically does not collapse.

But when it comes time to throw the same bottle into the dump, you probably will be visited by other thoughts. Now the feeling of gratitude to producers is replaced by shame for their behavior. We regularly buy plastic bags, and then we throw them away. However, oil-based materials (such as PET) are not degraded by the principle of organic substances.

What is biodegradation?

Relatively fast in the soil, wood, grass, food waste is completely decomposed. Biodegradation is the name of a process that destroys complex substances as a result of the activity of living organisms (eg earthworms or bacteria). Practically microorganisms transform organic materials (paper, cardboard, weeds, vegetable and fruit residues) into other useful compounds suitable for increasing soil fertility.

Ecology at risk

However, neither bacteria nor worms will want to deal with plastic. You can conduct an experiment in the compost pit of the garden site. On the one hand, load organic materials for these small gluttons, and fill the other with plastic bags and bottles. Do not forget to water it well, and then cover it with a layer of soil. Checking the condition of the compost pit during the summer, on the one hand you will find friable humus. On the other hand, your "gifts" will remain intact. The decomposition of plastic at best will happen in 200 years.

The discovery of Daniel Byrd

Of course, this is not the end of the story. In recent years, several outstanding discoveries have been recorded in the scientific community. So, for example, Daniel Byrd, a student at the University of Waterloo, has proved that some types of bacteria can destroy plastic. His research received the top prize at the Canadian Science Fair, which brought the young scientist $ 10,000 in cash and $ 20,000 as an incentive scholarship.

The process of photoaging

And while other researchers replicate the Byrd experiment and are waiting for results, let's look for other possible methods of decomposition of plastics. The only real way to decompose this material can be considered the process of photoaging, which requires a lot of sunlight, and not bacteria. When ultraviolet rays penetrate the plastic, they break the bonds holding this long polymer chain together. This will take a long time, but someday a large piece of plastic will fall into many small elements.

Searches for solving the problem

Garbage dumps are filled with products made of polyethylene terephthalate, but most of them are reliably hidden from sunlight. There is an alternative version of attempts to decompose plastic, which is unlikely to please ecologists. The oceans absorb tons of waste, and water contributes to the penetration of ultraviolet rays into the depths. Researchers from the University of Nihon (Japan) in 2007 came to the conclusion that plastic immersed in warm ocean water, after a year begins to lose its structure.

The world ocean as a garbage dump

You will not notice anything reprehensible in this, until you remember the sea inhabitants. In these microscopic pieces of decomposing plastic, toxic substances are hidden. When these toxins enter the intestines of animals, they can cause the death of representatives of marine fauna. Well, the tides are throwing away the decomposing pieces of plastic on the sea beaches. Holidaymakers think that they go to the sea for health, but they get a hit for their health.

How can this problem be solved?

One of the ways to prevent a biological catastrophe is the use of biodegradable plastic. At present food packages from corn and polylactic acid are being developed, which decomposes into carbon dioxide and water for a period of 50 to 90 days.