How Long Does It Take for Plastic to Decompose?

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Single-use plastics

The video thumbnail image shows a person's hand holding small fragments of colorful plastic.

Read Next

Environmental problem of plastic rubbish pollution in ocean

Plastic Disaster: How Your Bags, Bottles, and Body Wash Pollute the Oceans

Abstract vector hi speed internet technology background

History of Technology Timeline

Woman wearing hijab drinking bottle of water outdoors

Pro and Con: Bottled Water Ban

Binary Computer Code, Binary Code, Internet, Technology, Password, Data

How Does Wi-Fi Work?

Discover

Artist interpretation of space asteroids impacting earth and moon. Meteoroids, meteor impact, end of the world, danger, destruction, dinosaur extinct, Judgement Day, Doomsday Predictions, comet

Major Mass Extinctions

Dancers at a Cinco de Mayo festival at the Mission District, San Francisco, California. (Photo dated 2019.) holidays

Is Cinco de Mayo Mexico's Independence Day?

Paul Revere. "The bloody massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.," engraved by Paul Revere. Boston Massacre.

There’s a Riot Goin’ On: Riots in U.S. History (Part One)

Time zone map with standard time zones and International Date Line

Why Are Some Time Zones 30 Minutes Off Instead of an Hour?

Normandy Invasion: Omaha Beach. World War II. D-Day. Infographic. SPOTLIGHT VERSION

Facts and Figures About the Landings on Omaha Beach During the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944

Demystified - Do Lemmings Really Commit Mass Suicide? illustration

Do Lemmings Really Commit Mass Suicide?

African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.

Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement

How Long Does It Take for Plastic to Decompose?: Media

Videos

The video thumbnail image shows a person's hand holding small fragments of colorful plastic.

What are microplastics?

What lies beneath? Plastic, probably.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Images

Single-use plastics

Single-use plastics

A pile of discarded Styrofoam containers and other single-use plastics.

© Wokephoto17—Moment/Getty Images

VIEW MORE in these related Britannica articles: