Material Decomposition Rates

The rate of decomposition will vary dependent on the environment where the material is decomposing. For example, dry air may slow down decomposition, whereas a humid environment could speed it up.

Here are some general decomposition rate examples:

1.   Paper Towels - 2-4 weeks
2.   Orange or banana peels - 2-5 weeks
3.   Apple core - 2 months
4.   Cotton shirt - 2-5 months
5.   Plywood - 1-3 years
6.   Cigarette filter - 1-5 years
7.   Plastic bag - 10-20 years
8.   Nylon - 30-40 years

To print out a poster of the above, please click on: Material Decomposition Rates