Ocean and Marine Dumping Think of all the trash we create each day. Some of it, such as food waste, decomposes in a short amount of time. Some wastes, such as paper,
plastic, rubber, and metal, take weeks to hundreds of years to decompose. For example, paper takes about 6 weeks to decompose, and
aluminum takes about 200 years. In some countries, these wastes are irresponsibly dumped into the ocean. When these materials end up in
the ocean, they support the growth and well-being of marine life. People must be aware of how to dispose of such materials to protect the
environment. Recycling the materials is one possible solution.