Plastic is a very useful material but it also causes problems. Plastic does not rot away. So if plastic bottles or bags are dropped as litter they stay there for a very long time. Plastic litter spoils our environment.
A lot of plastic is thrown away.
Every year we throw away millions of tonnes of plastic. Most of it ends up in landfill sites and is buried under the ground. Most plastics do not rot or break down so they will be there for a very long time.
Plastic litter can hurt animals.
Plastic litter can damage wildlife. Many birds get tangled in plastic drinks can holders. The plastic holder gets wrapped around a bird’s feet or neck. The bird may not be able to feed and may die. Animals that get trapped in plastic bags can suffocate.
Some plastic rubbish is burnt.
In some places waste plastic is burnt with other rubbish in incinerators. When plastic is burnt it gives off heat energy. This is used in some incinerators to produce electricity or hot water. The problem with burning plastic is that it releases poisonous gases into the air through the chimneys, and this causes pollution.