PLASTIC DOES NOT GO AWAY

Plastics can take hundreds of years to decompose, causing extensive and lasting damage to ecosystems due to plastic pollution. To best understand what plastic pollution is, one must understand what plastic is: a material made from carbon (fossil fuels) and chemicals. Plastics are not safe, inert materials per se, but rather a complex group of mixtures of tens of thousands of chemicals, many of which are toxic. Over 10,000 chemicals in plastics have been identified, and data on more than 2,400 of these chemicals has identified them as substances of concern (there is incomplete or no hazard data on hundreds of other plastic chemicals).

4 Reasons Why Plastic Takes Years to Decompose

1. The Resilient Nature of Plastic: The key to plastic’s resilience lies in its molecular structure. Plastics are composed of long chains of synthetic polymers derived from petrochemicals. These polymers are designed to withstand physical, chemical, and biological degradation, ensuring the material’s longevity and stability. While this durability is advantageous for product use, it poses significant challenges for waste management and environmental preservation.

2. Fragmentation and Microplastics: While plastics do not decompose quickly, they do undergo physical degradation processes such as photodegradation and mechanical abrasion. Photodegradation occurs when plastics are exposed to sunlight, causing the bonds in the polymers to break down over time. This process leads to the formation of smaller plastic fragments, or microplastics. Mechanical abrasion, caused by wind, water, and physical forces, further breaks down these fragments. However, these processes do not eliminate the plastic; they merely transform it into smaller pieces that continue to persist in the environment.

3. Environmental Conditions and Decomposition Rates: The rate at which plastics decompose is influenced by environmental conditions. In landfills, where many plastics end up, the lack of sunlight, oxygen, and microbial activity slows the degradation process even further. In aquatic environments, where plastics are often exposed to UV radiation and physical forces, the breakdown into microplastics may occur more quickly, but the complete decomposition of these fragments still takes hundreds of years. The presence of certain additives, such as UV stabilisers, can also slow down the degradation process by protecting the plastic from sunlight.

4. Lack of Natural Decomposition Pathways: Unlike organic materials, which can be broken down by microorganisms into simpler substances that can be reabsorbed into the ecosystem, plastics do not have natural decomposers. Bacteria and fungi that decompose organic matter cannot effectively break down the synthetic polymers in plastics. As a result, plastics persist in the environment for centuries, gradually fragmenting into smaller pieces known as microplastics but not fully decomposing.

The decomposition of plastic is a lengthy and intricate process, taking hundreds of years, with profound environmental implications. The durability that makes plastic a versatile material also ensures its persistence in the environment, leading to pollution that can last for centuries. By understanding the factors that contribute to the persistence of plastics, we can better address this environmental issue through concerted efforts in reducing plastic use, improving waste management, and advancing sustainable alternatives.

The future of our planet depends on our ability to mitigate the impact of plastic pollution and move towards more sustainable practices. A global process to create a Plastics Treaty is underway, to address the plastic pollution crisis, including the health and environmental threats from toxic chemicals throughout the plastics life cycle.  We call for a robust treaty that protects health and the environment from plastic pollution.

References:

An Introduction to Plastics and Toxic Chemicals | IPEN. (2022, November). IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network).
https://ipen.org/documents/introduction-plastics-and-toxic-chemicals

Frequently asked questions on plastics and chemicals | IPEN. (2024, March). IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network).
https://ipen.org/documents/frequently-asked-questions-plastics-and-chemicals

Plastics, EDCs & Health | IPEN. (2020, December). IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network).
https://ipen.org/documents/plastics-edcs-health

How the Plastic Pollution Resolution Relates to Chemicals and Health | IPEN. (n.d.). IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network).
https://ipen.org/documents/how-plastic-pollution-resolution-relates-to-chemicals-and-health

Ghost Nets: Why they endanger Marine life – Plastic Soup Foundation. (2020, May 1). Plastic Soup Foundation.
https://www.plasticsoupfoundation.org/en/plastic-problem/plastic-environment/ghost-nets/

Tribune, Z. E. C. D. (2019, January 7). Why is it so hard to decompose plastic? Columbia Daily Tribune.
https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/lifestyle/family/2019/01/07/why-is-it-so-hard/98492007/

Centre for International Environmental Law. (2022, February 1). Plastic and Climate: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet – Center for International Environmental Law.
https://www.ciel.org/plasticandclimate/

Lai, O. (2024, March 4). The detrimental impacts of plastic pollution on animals. Earth.Org.
https://earth.org/plastic-pollution-animals/

Swaters. (2023, April 14). New Study Shows Plastics Release Greenhouse Gases, Contributing to Climate Change. Surfrider Foundation.
https://www.surfrider.org/news/new-study-shows-plastic-as-source-of-greenhouse-gases-potentially-contribut