Problems with polymers

== Biodegradability== Many materials we throw away are biodegradable. They eventually rot away because microbes feed on them and break them down. Most polymers are not biodegradable. This is useful, because products made from them last along time. It is also a problem, because when polymers have been thrown away they do not rot.

Disposing of polymers
Landfill sites Burning Recycling Biodegradable polymers
 * polymers are not biodegradable
 * they last for many years
 * we are rinning out of landfill sites
 * Many polymers release toxic gases when they are burned
 * Melting or breaking down polymers to make new objects
 * they will rot away in landfill sites