Rubbish in the water

Date: 1/2/2001

Environment Waikato have done some research on the length of time it takes for different types of rubbish to break down in water. Since there are occasions when we are all tempted to drop something overboard, these results serve as a useful reminder to dispose of our rubbish more appropriately:

Cardboard box – two months

Apple core – two months

Tin and aluminium cans – 50 years

Plastic bottle – 450 years

Disposable nappies – 450 years

Fishing line – 600 years