Sofia Martinez
Plastic is a human-made material that has transformed packaging, product design, and retailing. Designed to last, plastic does not easily decompose. Instead, it breaks down into smaller particles, becoming microplastics that can be found everywhere from Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench. While the breakdown process can be accelerated through photodegradation, where UV rays break down the molecules, plastic can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose, with some plastics lasting even longer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Decomposition time | Anywhere from 20 to 500 years, depending on the material and structure |
| Decomposition method | Photodegradation, i.e., breakdown due to exposure to UV light from the sun |
| Decomposition products | Smaller particles, which can include harmful toxins |
| Biodegradability | Does not biodegrade naturally, but can be broken down by certain bacteria |
| Environmental impact | Contamination of soil, water bodies, and the ocean, leading to plastic pollution |
| Accumulation | All plastic ever produced still exists, with an estimated 8.3 billion tons made so far |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic does not easily decompose
The durability of plastic is due to its chemical composition. Plastic's carbon bonds are not the same as the chemical bonds found in nature, making it harder and more energy-intensive for bacteria to break them down. This is why plastic does not undergo biodegradation like wood, grass, and food scraps, which are transformed by bacteria in the soil into other useful compounds.
Instead, plastic tends to break down into smaller and smaller particles until they are too small to be seen. This process is called photodegradation, and it occurs when plastics absorb ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, which breaks down the molecules. However, this does not mean that plastic fully disappears, and the process can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years, depending on the material and structure of the plastic.
While plastic does not naturally biodegrade, researchers have discovered certain types of bacteria that can break down plastic. These plastic-eating bacteria were found at a dumpsite, where they were using plastic as food and surviving the toxic chemicals released during the breakdown process. Additionally, scientists have developed biodegradable plastics, or bioplastics, which are designed to be easily broken down by nature, as well as plant-based plastics made from corn or sugarcane. However, until waste treatment plants can implement new processes, the primary method for breaking down plastic remains photodegradation.
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Decomposition time depends on material and structure
Plastic is not a material that decomposes easily. It is designed to last decades, if not hundreds of years. The decomposition time depends on the material and structure of the plastic. For example, plastic bags travelling in the ocean tear away due to constant motion and UV light, taking around 20 years to decompose. On the other hand, plastic bottles can take up to 450 years, while fishing lines take around 600 years. Coffee pods and toothbrushes, which are made of polypropylene plastic and nylon, can take 500 years or more to decompose.
The longevity of plastic is due to its chemical composition. Plastic's carbon bonds are not the same as the chemical bonds found in nature, making it harder and more energy-intensive for bacteria to break them down. Petroleum-based plastics, like polyethylene terephthalate (PET), require UV light to break down, not bacteria. This process, called photodegradation, involves UV rays striking plastic and breaking the bonds holding the long molecular chain together.
However, there may be some hope in the form of plastic-eating bacteria. In 2008, a student at Waterloo Collegiate Institute, Daniel Burd, demonstrated that certain types of bacteria could break down plastic. Researchers have since confirmed these findings and identified several other plastic-eating bacteria. Additionally, scientists have created plant-based plastics using corn or sugarcane, and tweaked the chemical bonds of petroleum-based plastics to make them easier for nature to break down.
While these innovations show promise, the only practical way to break down plastic currently is through photodegradation. This process can be accelerated by exposing plastic waste to sunlight, as is done in landfills. However, it is important to note that even after hundreds of years, plastic never fully disappears; it just gets smaller and smaller.
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Plastic leaks toxins into the soil
Plastic is not a natural substance and does not easily decompose. It is designed to last decades, if not hundreds of years, and can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to break down, depending on the material and structure. Even then, it never fully disappears; it just gets smaller and smaller.
As plastic degrades, it can leak toxins into the soil. This is one of the many issues researchers must tackle. The only real way to break down plastic is through photodegradation, which requires sunlight, not bacteria. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun breaks down the molecules of plastic, turning a big piece of plastic into lots of little pieces. However, this is not a solution to plastic pollution as these microplastics can still cause harm to the environment. They have been found everywhere, from Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench, and are ingested by all animal species, including humans.
The accumulation of plastic in the environment is a growing problem. Plastic production has increased from two million tons in 1950 to more than 500 million tons in 2024, and about half of all plastic on Earth has been produced since 2000. If trends continue, there will be about 12 billion tons of plastic in landfills and the environment by 2050.
To reduce plastic pollution, it is essential to produce and use much less plastic. Individuals can also do their part by reducing their plastic consumption and opting for reusable or eco-friendly alternatives whenever possible.
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Plastic-eating bacteria can break down plastic
Plastic is not a material that easily decomposes. It can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years for plastic to break down, depending on the material and structure. Petroleum-based plastics like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) do not decompose in the same way that organic material does. Instead, plastic tends to break down into smaller particles until they are too small to be seen. This means that every molecule of plastic produced since 1907 is still present in the environment today.
However, in recent years, plastic-eating bacteria have emerged as a promising solution to the plastic crisis. In 2008, Daniel Burd, a student at Waterloo Collegiate Institute, demonstrated that certain types of bacteria could break down plastic. Researchers have since confirmed Burd's findings and identified several other plastic-eating bacteria, including Ideonella sakaiensis, a species discovered in a rubbish dump that uses plastic as food.
The discovery of these plastic-eating bacteria has led to innovations in the recycling process. For example, a French company named Carbios has been using a bacterial enzyme to process PET plastic waste, breaking it down into precursor molecules that can be made into new plastic. This process brings us much closer to achieving infinitely recyclable plastic.
While plastic-eating bacteria show great potential, there are some limitations to their use. For instance, cold-temperature bacteria can only break down specific types of biodegradable plastics, and the process of breaking down plastic using bacteria can be very slow. Additionally, it would be challenging to produce enough bacteria to consume all the plastic waste that exists in the environment.
Despite these challenges, the future of using bacteria to break down plastic looks promising. Researchers are working on developing plastic that incorporates spores of plastic-eating bacteria, allowing it to self-destruct when exposed to nutrients in compost. This innovation could help mitigate plastic pollution in nature.
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Plastic waste enters oceans and waterways
Another significant source of plastic in our oceans is single-use plastic items, such as water bottles, takeout containers, and plastic bags, which are designed to be quickly discarded. These items often end up in the ocean when not properly disposed of or managed. Microplastics, tiny plastic particles, can also enter waterways through everyday activities like washing clothes in washing machines, as synthetic microfibers from clothing can slip past wastewater treatment plants.
Once in the ocean, plastic waste has severe ecological consequences. Plastic does not fully biodegrade; instead, it breaks down into smaller and smaller fragments called microplastics. These microplastics can be ingested by marine organisms, causing harm and potentially interfering with their growth and behavior. Additionally, microplastics can act as "magnets" for harmful pollutants, which can then enter the food chain and potentially impact human health.
The impact of plastic waste in our oceans is not limited to a specific location but becomes a planetary issue as garbage can travel thousands of miles. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, for example, is estimated to be twice the size of the continental United States. While the exact boundaries of these trash gyres are challenging to measure, plastic marine debris is now found on the surface of every ocean globally.
To address the issue of plastic waste in our oceans and waterways, it is essential to reduce plastic use, properly dispose of or recycle plastic items, and participate in cleanup efforts to remove plastic litter from our local communities and oceans.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose, depending on the material and structure. For example, plastic bags take 20 years to decompose, plastic bottles take 450 years, and fishing lines take around 600 years. However, plastic never fully disappears; it just gets smaller and smaller until it's too small to be seen.
The decomposition of plastic is affected by sunlight exposure. Plastics absorb ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, which breaks down the molecules. This process is called photodegradation, and it’s why landfills expose plastic waste to the sun to accelerate decomposition.
When plastic decomposes in landfills, it can take hundreds of years and release harmful gases like methane. As plastic degrades, it can also leak toxins into the soil, contaminating groundwater and leading to serious environmental threats.
Yes, there are new kinds of plastic on the market, such as biodegradable plastics or bioplastics, which are designed to biodegrade more easily. Additionally, scientists have created plant-based plastics using corn or sugarcane, and tweaked the chemical bonds of petroleum-based plastics to make them more biodegradable.
