6.9 Materials: Using and Reusing

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6.9.19 Global Waste Management

What Really Happens to Our Trash?

There are around 400,000 elephants on Earth. But every single year, humans produce enough waste to equal the weight of 400 million elephants. That’s 1,000 times more elephants than actually exist!
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Recycling Rates:

  • Only 13% of plastic waste is recycled.
  • About 68% of paper gets recycled.
  • Less than 25% of glass is recycled in many places.
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Decomposition rates:

  • Plastic: 500+ years
  • Glass: Never decomposes naturally but doesn’t pollute much
  • Paper: A few months if composted
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