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Plastic Breaks Down More
Slowly than Most Other Ocean Debris

Of the many types of manmade objects that pollute the oceans, plastic is
the worst offender. In some cases it takes hundreds of years to biodegrade.
Fishing line, plastic bottles, and disposable diapers are among the most
long-lasting of all ocean debris.

Estimated Number of Years for Selected
Items to Biodegrade in a Marine Environment
Items to Biodegrade in a Marine Environment

Cigarettes 10 years

Plastic
grocery bag 20 years

Styrofoam cup 50 years

Aluminum cans 200 years

Plastic beverage 400 years
holder

Disposable 450 years
diaper

Plastic bottle 450 years

Fishing line 600 years

Source: Kate Whiting, “This Is How Long Everyday Plastic Items Last in the Ocean,” World Economic Forum,
November 2, 2018. www.weforum.org.

and takes this route to the sea. . . . The quantity of plastic per cu-
bic meter of water [is] signifi cantly higher in large rivers than small
ones.” In a 2017 report coauthored by Schmidt, ten rivers were
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identifi ed as accounting for 88 to 95 percent of all plastic that
makes its way from rivers to the sea. These rivers are all located
in Asia and Africa, continents that have immense coastal popula-
tions and often lack proper facilities for waste management.

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