Cambridge O Level Biology · Syllabus 5090 · Relationships of Organisms with One Another and with the Environment
Non-biodegradable Plastic
What is Non-biodegradable Plastic?
A plastic that decomposers cannot break down, so it persists in the environment for a very long time after it is discarded. Because it is not removed by decomposition, it accumulates in aquatic and terrestrial habitats, where animals may swallow fragments that block or damage the gut, may become entangled in larger pieces so that they cannot feed, move or breathe, and habitats may be physically contaminated. Plastic broken into smaller particles may be taken in by small organisms and so enter food webs.
This definition is part of the Relationships of Organisms with One Another and with the Environment chapter in Cambridge O Level Biology.