Non-biodegradable materials cannot be broken down by living organisms. They persist in the environment for decades or centuries. Plastic, glass, metal, and synthetic rubber are common examples. A glass bottle dropped in the ocean may survive for a million years. A plastic bag can last centuries, fragmenting into microplastics but never fully disappearing.

This persistence creates problems. Waste accumulates in landfills, oceans, and landscapes. Wildlife mistakes plastic for food and dies. Metals leach into soil and water. Glass is inert but takes up space. Non-biodegradable waste is the core of the global pollution crisis.

Some materials can be recycled or reused, which reduces the problem. But recycling rates are low for many materials. Plastic recycling is especially limited. Only about 9 percent of plastic ever produced has been recycled. The rest sits in landfills, is burned, or ends up in the environment. Reducing consumption is the most direct solution, followed by reuse, recycling, and safe disposal.

Common examples

• Plastic
• Glass
• Metal
• Synthetic rubber
• Styrofoam