When I was just out of highschool I became obsessed with cutting up plastic 6-pack ring holders and since my mother loved to drink diet Coke, I had plenty of cutting to do. I must have cut up 100's of platic 6-pack ring holders that I was afraid might find there way around some innocent birds neck out in the bay. Then, as time went on, I had a family and I got busy with life. Honestly, over the past 10 years I had not thought much about the plastic ring holders and though I never forgot to cut up my 6-pack rings, I was not quite the advocate that I use to be... until I saw the movie Happy Feet. I adore Robin Williams and when I saw the 6-pack necklace around his character 'Lovelace's' neck I was reminded of how important it is to cut up the 6-pack rings.
Here's how long it takes for some commonly used products to biodegrade, when they are scattered about as litter:
Here's how long it takes for some commonly used products to biodegrade, when they are scattered about as litter:
Cotton rags - 1-5 months
Paper - 2-5 months
Rope - 3-14 months
Orange peels - 6 months
Wool socks - 1-5 years
Cigarette butts - 1-12 years
Plastic coated paper milk cartons - 5 years
Plastic bags - 10-20 years
Leather shoes - 25-40 years
Nylon fabric - 30-40 years
Tin cans - 50-100 years
Aluminum cans - 80-100 years
Plastic 6-pack holder rings - 450 years
Glass bottles 1 million years
Plastic bottles Forever
Paper - 2-5 months
Rope - 3-14 months
Orange peels - 6 months
Wool socks - 1-5 years
Cigarette butts - 1-12 years
Plastic coated paper milk cartons - 5 years
Plastic bags - 10-20 years
Leather shoes - 25-40 years
Nylon fabric - 30-40 years
Tin cans - 50-100 years
Aluminum cans - 80-100 years
Plastic 6-pack holder rings - 450 years
Glass bottles 1 million years
Plastic bottles Forever
So get out your sizzors and start cutting... or better yet, don't by anything products that still use 'plastic 6-pack rings.
Happy Days... Stacey, Alexey, and Addisen
