Do Disposable Diapers Take 500 Years to Biodegrade?
Cloth diaper advocates often write about the length of time it takes for a disposable diaper to break down within a landfill; 500 years seems to be the most frequently cited time frame. Since disposable diapers have not been in existence for 500 years, this is obviously a projection, but based on what evidence? There simply is no firsthand evidence of the decomposition rate of disposable diapers. Juliet Lapidos describes how scientists estimate the length of time it takes trash to decompose. “To make long-term estimates of this sort, scientists often use respirometry tests. The experimenters place a solid waste sample…in a vessel containing microbe-rich compost, then aerate the mixture. Oer the course of several days, microorganisms assimilate the sample bit by bit and produce carbon dioxide; the resultant carbon dioxide level serves as an indicator of degradation.” (1) Lapidos goes on to explain how Respirometry tests are effective for products like newspapers and banana peels, but no
