Save the Fish
Cotton swab: how long does it take to break down in the sea?
Estimated time to break down in the sea: > 200 years. Source: GOV.UK (gov.uk). The UK government says cotton buds take “hundreds of years” to break down. We show 200 years, the smallest number that fits.
Cotton swab: why is it harmful to the sea?
Flushed down toilets; the thin plastic stick gets swallowed by birds and small fish.
Cotton swab: does it really disappear?
Only the cotton tips rot. The plastic stick breaks into microplastics over hundreds of years.
Cotton swab: how harmful is it compared with other trash?
Harm score 7 out of 10: lasts 4/4, toxic 1/3, wildlife 2/3. It ranks 11 of 31 on our list. This score is our own simple scale for comparing items in the game. It is not an official index.
Cotton swab: what is it made of?
Material: A plastic stick with cotton tips. A typical one is about 7.5 cm long and weighs about 0.3 g.
Cotton swab: what can I do?
Small litter still counts: put it in a bin, never on the beach, in a drain or down the toilet.
Cotton swab: what lasts longer, and what breaks down sooner?
Lasts longer: Plastic cutlery, Plastic straw, Plastic cups and plates. Breaks down sooner: Aluminium can, Plastic bag, Foam buoy.
Cotton swab: where does this figure come from?
From “Gove takes action to ban plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds”, UK Government, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (GOV.UK). Checked on 2026-10-25.
The source says“take hundreds of years to break down”The source's limits (in English): A government statement with no number: 'take hundreds of years to break down'; the game reads 'hundreds' as at least 200 years (user, 2026-10-25).