Decomposition time of plastics


22/08/2023 | Viết bởi:


According to statistics from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in Vietnam, about 1.8 million tons of plastic waste is discharged into the environment each year. However, only 27% of it is recycled and utilized by facilities and businesses. The rest is buried, buried in the ground or discharged into the sea. Therefore, paying attention to the decomposition time of plastic waste is extremely necessary to raise people's awareness in the use and recycling of this type of waste.  

Depending on the structure and materials, each type of plastic waste has a different decomposition time. But in general, the decomposition time of this type of waste is very long, up to more than 1000 years. 

Product 

Structural materials 

Decomposition time 

Plastic bags and thin plastic bags 

High-Density Polyethylene Compound (HDPE) 

From 10 tp 100 years 

Thick, tough plastic bags 

Low-Density Polyethylene Compound (LDPE) 

From 500 to 1000 years 

Plastic bottle 

Polyethylene Terephthalate Plastic (PET)   

From 450 to 1000 years 

Detergent bottle 

High-Density Polyethylene Compound (HDPE)   

From 500 to 1000 years 

Plastic straw 

Polypropylene Plastic (PP) 

From 100 to 500 years 

Plastic spoons and forks 

PE, PP,… 

From 100 to 500 years 

Toothbrush 

Polyamide Plastic (PA) 

Over 500 years 

Cup of yogurt 

Polypropylene Plastic (PP) 

From 100 to 500 years 

Styrofoam cup 

Extruded Polystyrene Foam Plastic (XPS) 

From 50 to 500 years 

Lid 

Polypropylene Plastic (PP) 

From 100 to 500 years 

Diapers and sanitary napkins 

Polypropylene Plastic (PP) 

From 250 to 500 years 

   

 Source: newstarpaper.vn