The most common garbage is

Each citizen in the Czech Republic produces an average of 553 kg of municipal waste per year. In 2022, we will have produced a total of 5.8 million tonnes. The statistics say. We say: "The most environmentally friendly waste is that which is not generated."

Garbage isn't going anywhere. It would be best to reuse the packaging. Consider every cup and can, preferring backed or glass containers that can be recycled indefinitely. Use cloth bags or perhaps your own coffee cup.

When you do indulge and buy in disposable packaging, clean up after yourself and take the waste away again. There are 5 bins in the park for mixed waste, please use them. Sort what can be recycled into the correct bins, which can be found nearby. Common litter in the park includes cans, PET bottles, paper napkins, cigarette butts, excrement, pencil batteries and more. We know this because we used to clean up here.

Dropping a small piece of gum on the ground may seem insignificant, but it will take 50 years to decompose. Beverage cans are dangerous to humans and animals. Rust and sharp sides can injure them. Aluminium belongs in the grey metal bin. When it's full, it goes in the yellow bin. You can tell aluminum by the fact that it doesn't react to magnets, makes a ball, and tears easily. Metal packaging and tetra-packs can now also be disposed of in the container originally intended for plastics. Aluminum can be recycled 100%, it can be made into a new can! PET bottles belong in the yellow container. Stacked so they don't take up any space. Glass belongs in the green bin, if you leave that in the park it can stay there for thousands of years and never decompose properly.

How long does the most common garbage take to decompose?

Paper handkerchief and paper waste up to 5 months.
Disposable diapers, pads and tampons 100-250 years.
Plastic cup, PET bottle 70-100 years old.
Plastic bag 25 years.
Chewing gum 5-50 years.
Cans for 15 years.
Pencil batteries 200-500 years.
Glass and polystyrene up to 10 000 years.

What surprised us?

Martina: "Batteries that decompose as long as 200 to 500 years. In addition, there is a high risk of severe pollution of the environment. They release dangerous, toxic substances. Glass takes 1 000 years to decompose and may not decompose at all. Polystyrene takes 10 000 years to decompose.

Sandra: "That the glass might not decompose at all. That gum takes so long to decompose."

Interesting links:

Waste data for 2022

Backup: not about how, but if at all

Sorting of waste, where yoghurt cans and lids belong

The yellow container is now multi-modal, it can also hold other waste besides plastics

Movie Predators (20 min)

Text prepared by Martina Hronová, Sandra Lagronová ad.