You Won’t Believe How Long It Takes for These Popular Items to Decompose

March 22, 2022

Source: Marvin Samuel Tolentino Pineda / iStock via Getty Images

Sanitary pads
> How long they take to decompose: More than 25 years

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Shoes
> How long they take to decompose: 25 to 40 years

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Source: Nadya So / Getty Images

Six-pack holders
> How long they take to decompose: 450 years

Source: wragg / E+ via Getty Images

Steel cans
> How long they take to decompose: 50 years

Source: allenran917 / Flickr

Straws
> How long they take to decompose: 200 years