What Are the Dangers of Not Recycling Plastic?

Plastics have become a vital part of our everyday lives, so much so that it's hard to even imagine life without them. They can be found in bottles, bags, toys, cars, packaging material, just about any type of container and numerous other places. Plastics are very versatile and long-lasting, but it's these same qualities that make plastics a danger to the environment if they are not properly disposed of or recycled.

Landfills

• Plastics are currently the most abundant item in landfills today, and because plastics are not biodegradable, they will remain in these landfills for up to 1,000 years or longer before they decompose, according to earth911.com. Plastic bottles alone consume 11 percent of landfill capacity in the United States, states professorshouse.com. The site also notes that, on average, about two landfills close per day because they've reached full capacity.

Pollution

• Pollution can be found everywhere -- on streets, in parks, in forests, on mountains and even in oceans. There is virtually no part of the planet that is immune to it. Since plastic is made from some very toxic components and is made to last virtually forever, once it makes it into the environment, it poses a serious threat to nature and entire ecosystems. This is most prevalent in the world's oceans, where garbage that consists of mostly plastic covers millions of square miles.

Depletion of Natural Resources

• Most plastics are made from petrochemicals, which are, as the name implies, petroleum-based. Most plastics are made from the same fossil fuels that are also used as energy sources for automobiles, electricity and heating. These fossil fuels are finite resources, and a lack of recycling will result in a quicker consumption of these nonrenewable natural resources.