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Roadside Beautification
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Litter Facts
Begin Main Content Area
Page Content
Litter Information
Quick Litter Tips
Don't litter.
Learn about litter so you can teach others that prevention is a wise choice to make.
If you see a friend litter, tell them why they shouldn't litter.
If you see litter, pick it up. (Unless it is broken glass, which should be swept up.)
Consider adopting a highway near you.
The Life Span of Commonly Discarded Litter
Click to view larger.
Item
Decomposition Time
Glass Bottle
Approximately 1 Million Years
Plastic 6-Pack Collar
450 Years
Aluminum Can
200 – 500 Years
Plastic Jug
70 Years
Rubber Boot Sole
50 – 80 Years
Steel Cans
50 Years
Leather
Up To 50 Years
Nylon Fabric
30 – 40 Years
Plastic Film Canister
20 – 30 Years
Painted Wooden Stake
13 Years
Degradable Plastic Bag
10 – 20 Years
Disposable Diapers
10 – 20 Years
Wool Clothing
One – Five Years
Cigarette Butt
One – Five Years
Cotton Rag
One – Five Months
Orange Peel/Banana Peel
Two – Five Weeks
Piece Of Paper
Two – Four Weeks
Traffic Tickets
Two – Four Weeks
Rolled Newspaper
Two – Six Weeks
Candy Wrapper
One – Three Months
Rope
Three – 14 Months
Content Editor
Resources
Enforcing Litter Laws
Litter Facts and Myths
Roadside Planting Guide, PUB 461A
(PDF)