Editing Litter (section)

==Life cycle==
Litter can remain visible for extended periods of time before it eventually [[Biodegradation|biodegrades]], with some items made of condensed glass, [[expanded polystyrene foam|styrofoam]] or plastic possibly remaining in the environment for over a million years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.deq.state.or.us/wmc/solwaste/rethinkrecyc/K-3/RRK-308.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428050343/http://www.deq.state.or.us/wmc/solwaste/rethinkrecyc/K-3/RRK-308.pdf |archive-date=2012-04-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blm.gov/education/lnt/background/packing.htm |last=Brody |first=Jeremy |title=Teaching Leave No Trace. (Editorial) |work=blm.gov |date=10 January 1998 |access-date=14 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814105440/http://www.blm.gov/education/lnt/background/packing.htm |archive-date=14 August 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=((Christina Macfarlane, for CNN)) |title=Golf balls: 'Humanity's signature litter' |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/11/04/littering.golf.balls/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026212333/http://www.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/11/04/littering.golf.balls/ |archive-date=2011-10-26 |access-date=2012-02-21 |publisher=CNN.com}}</ref>

About 18 percent of litter, usually traveling through [[stormwater]] systems, ends up in local streams, rivers, and waterways. Uncollected litter can accrete and flow into [[streams]], local [[bays]] and [[estuaries]]. Litter in the ocean either washes up on beaches or collects in [[ocean gyre]]s such as the [[Great Pacific Garbage Patch]]. About 80 percent of [[marine debris]] comes from land-based sources.<ref>Faris, J. and Hart, K., Seas of Debris: A Summary of the Third International Conference on Marine Debris, N.C. Sea Grant College Program and NOAA, 1994, title page.</ref>

Some litter that is collected can be [[recycling|recycled]]; however, degraded litter cannot be recycled and eventually degrades to [[sludge]], often toxic. The majority of litter that is collected goes to [[landfill]]s.