When an eraser reaches the end of its useful life, it often enters the waste stream, raising questions about its ultimate fate. Understanding what happens to these everyday items involves examining their composition and how different materials interact with the environment. The environmental impact of these small tools is a growing consideration. This exploration will delve into material decomposition and the specific implications for common eraser types.
Understanding Biodegradability
Biodegradability describes a material’s ability to decompose into natural substances, such as water, carbon dioxide, and biomass, through the action of microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. The rate and extent of decomposition depend on several environmental factors.
Factors such as oxygen, temperature, and moisture levels significantly influence how quickly a material biodegrades. For instance, anaerobic conditions, where oxygen is absent, lead to much slower decomposition or the production of different byproducts like methane. Conversely, warm, moist, and oxygen-rich environments, like those in composting facilities, accelerate microbial activity.
Common Eraser Materials and Their Breakdown
Erasers are typically made from a few primary materials, each with distinct chemical properties that dictate their environmental persistence. Natural rubber, derived from the latex of rubber trees, is one such material. Natural rubber is a polymer of isoprene, a naturally occurring organic compound.
Synthetic rubber encompasses a wide range of human-made polymers, often derived from petroleum. These include styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) or butyl rubber, engineered for specific performance characteristics. Unlike natural rubber, their molecular structures are designed for durability and resistance to degradation. Vinyl erasers, predominantly made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), represent another common type. PVC is a synthetic plastic, and its production involves chlorine in addition to petroleum-derived components, resulting in a highly stable material.
Are Most Erasers Biodegradable?
Most erasers commonly found in schools and offices are not biodegradable. This is primarily because they are made from synthetic materials like vinyl (PVC) or certain types of synthetic rubber. These human-made polymers possess molecular structures that microorganisms cannot easily recognize or break down.
The strong chemical bonds within these synthetic materials make them resistant to microbial attack, meaning they do not decompose into harmless natural elements within a reasonable timeframe. When these erasers are discarded, they typically end up in landfills, where they persist for extended periods, contributing to waste accumulation.
A vinyl eraser, for example, can take hundreds of years to break down, if it breaks down at all, under typical landfill conditions. Synthetic rubber erasers also exhibit similar longevity due to their stable polymer chains. This persistence means these materials remain in the environment for generations, occupying landfill space and potentially leaching chemicals over time.
Eco-Friendly Eraser Options
For those seeking sustainable alternatives, eco-friendly eraser options address the environmental concerns of traditional synthetic materials. Erasers made from natural rubber are a prime example, as their plant-derived composition allows for eventual biodegradation. These erasers typically decompose much faster than their synthetic counterparts, especially in conditions conducive to microbial activity.
Other sustainable choices include erasers made from recycled materials, such as recycled plastics or rubber, which reduce the demand for new virgin resources. While these might not be fully biodegradable, they contribute to a circular economy by diverting waste from landfills. Additionally, some manufacturers are exploring plant-based plastics or other bio-based polymers for erasers, offering alternatives that are designed to break down more readily. These innovations aim to lessen the environmental footprint associated with eraser disposal.