What Are the Environmental Problems of Using Plastic?

Plastic, a convenient modern material, is strong, lightweight, doesn't break when dropped and can be molded into a variety of shapes. However, this convenience comes at a price, and the overuse of plastic in our societies can have a negative impact on our environment.

Production

• It takes more energy to recycle plastic than it does to make glass from new materials, according to an article on the Ecology Center website. In addition, plastics are made from nonrenewable natural gas, which is a further drain on nonrenewable energy supplies.

Disposal

• Plastics are used widely in consumer product packaging, which leads to landfills that are full of this material. According to the Environmental Literacy Council, plastics make up about one-quarter of all the garbage contained in landfills. This plastic has nowhere to go, as it doesn't break down easily.

Contamination

• Dangerous chemicals from plastic make their way from landfills into the ground water, polluting the environment and drinking water, according to a Scientific American website article.