A core issue is that although plastics are long-lived products that could be used for many decades, the way they are used now tends to be in single-use items that are disposed of within a year. Once in a landfill, they will remain there for centuries. These plastics accumulate in landfills, and also in the ocean. Currently, there is a large mass of accumulating garbage in the ocean, composed mostly of plastics, known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (shown in Figure 3). One common misconception is that large plastic pieces are floating around in this area, when in reality the majority of the waste has broken down into nurdles, which leaves the water looking cloudy and murky.
In addition to the lack of biodegradability and long life, there are several health and environmental effects that can be connected to the disposal of plastics. First, the chemicals added to plastics can be absorbed by human bodies, and some of these compounds have been found to alter hormones and have other potential health effects. If ingested, these plastics can harm humans. This ingestion could occur from drinking water that has been contaminated by chemicals that have leeched out of plastics in landfills.
