WASTE POLLUTION

HOW LONG DOES LITTER LAST?

PLASTIC BOTTLES - 450 YEARS

GLASS BOTTLES - 1 MILLION YEARS

ALUMINIUM CANS - 200 YEARS

CUGARETTE BUTTS - UP TO 12 YEARS

LEFTOVERS - 6 MONTHS

TAKE-AWAY WRAPPERS - UP TO 30 YEARS

PLASTIC BAGS - 1000 YEARS

DISPOSABLE NAPPIES - 450 YEARS

COMMON FORMS OF LITTER

  1. CIGARETTE BUTTS
  1. CHEWING GUMS
  1. FOOD WRAPPERS AND CUPS

CHEWING GUMS - INDEFINITE

CONSEQUENCES OF THROWING LITTER

THROWING FOOD ON THE ROADSIDE ATTRACTS ANIMALS THAT CAN CAUSE WRECKS

CIGARETTE BUTTS CAN BLOCK DRAINS AND CAUSE FLOODS AS WELL AS LEACH TOXIC CHEMICALS INTO SOIL AND WATER

LIT CIGARETTE BUTTS THROWN FROM CAR WINDOWS CAN CAUSE DANGEROUS WILD FIRES

DISPOSABLE NAPPIES GENERATE 1 TON OF GARBAGE IN 2 YEARS FOR EACH BABY

PLASTICS, THAT CONTAIN TOXIC CHEMICALS AND USUALLY CANNOT BE RECYCLED, BREAK DOWN INTO TINY PIECES THAT GET INTO THE AIR AND WATER

  1. PLASTIC BAGS AND STRAWS
  1. FOOD

WHAT CAN YOU DO PERSONALLY

Use a reusable bottle/cup for beverages on-the-go

Use reusable grocery bags, and not just for groceries

Purchase wisely and recycle

Avoid single-use food and drink containers and utensils

Buy secondhand items and donate used goods

Shop local farmers markets and buy in bulk to reduce packaging

Curb your use of paper: mail, receipts, magazines