For the most part, mankind’s artefacts are neither durable nor resilient. Left to the elements most man-made objects would have been reduced to their original elements within a century. Even such ancient memorials of a past civilisation such as pyramids and the Sphinx will be reduced to dust within 10 millennia.

Needless to say, it is not merely the dispassionate elements and nature which inexorably destroy man-made artefacts but there is also the intentional laying waste to artefacts of one’s rivals whether political, social or religious.

Main picture: A bridge made out of an abandoned train carriage

Notable examples are Henry VIII’s wanton destruction of the Catholic Monasteries in a fit of pique. A more recent example would include Mao Zedong’s destruction of priceless cultural artefacts dated back millennia as part of the Cultural Revolution when Mao deemed it necessary to destroy the past. Even now ISIS is destroying the vast cultural and historical legacy in Syria and Iraq. Their campaign is a travesty of religious tolerance.

Mankind cannot unconcernedly shrug their shoulders and proclaim, “C’est le vie” It is incumbent upon civilisation to preserve our heritage warts and all, in toto. Not only does this define our level of civilisation but it also provides a window to the past, the wandering path to the present.

Time it takes for garbage to decompose in the environment:

Glass Bottle…………………….. 1 million years

Monofilament Fishing Line… 600 years

Plastic Beverage Bottles…… 450 years

Disposable Diapers………… 450 years

Aluminium Can………………… 80-200 years

Foamed Plastic Buoy……… 80 years

Foamed Plastic Cups……… 50 years

Rubber-Boot Sole…………… 50-80 years

Tin Cans……………………. 50 years

Leather…………………………… 50 years

Nylon Fabric…………………… 30-40 years

Plastic Film Container…….. 20-30 years

Plastic Bag…………………….. 10-20 years

Cigarette Butt…………………. 1-5 years

Wool Sock………………………. 1-5 years

Plywood…………………….. 1-3 years

Waxed Milk Carton………… 3 months

Apple Core…………………. 2 months

Newspaper………………….. 6 weeks

Orange or Banana Peel…… 2-5 weeks

Paper Towel……………….. 2-4 weeks
Information Source: U.S. National Park Service; Mote Marine Lab, Sarasota, FL.