nonbiodegradable
Resists natural breakdown
Nonbiodegradable describes materials that don't break down naturally through biological processes.
Plastics, Styrofoam, and synthetic fibers persist in the environment for decades or centuries because bacteria and other organisms can't decompose them: The beach was littered with nonbiodegradable waste.
The term appears frequently in environmental discussions about pollution and waste management.
Thermoplastic from ethylene gas
- polypropyleneVersatile thermoplastic resin
- polystyreneLightweight synthetic foam plastic
- PVCChlorinated plastic abbreviation
- PETNuclear medicine imaging
nylon · acrylic · polycarbonate · styrofoam · vinyl · fiberglass · Teflon · Kevlar
Waste burial ground
- garbageDiscarded waste material
- litterScattered waste or debris
- trashDiscarded worthless material
- debrisScattered broken fragments
refuse · rubbish · scrap · discards · junk · packaging · disposables · microplastics
Fixed without end
- indestructibleImpossible to damage permanently
- durableAble to withstand use
- long-lastingPersisting over extended time
- resistantWithstanding external forces
stable · impervious · enduring · unyielding · unbreakable · persistent · inert · immortal
Environmental harm from waste
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
decomposition · conservation · biodiversity · bioaccumulation
Causing damage or injury
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- contaminatedMade impure by contact
- leachingDissolving out by liquid
- BPASynthetic estrogen in plastics
polyethylene
Thermoplastic from ethylene gas
- polypropyleneVersatile thermoplastic resin
- polystyreneLightweight synthetic foam plastic
- PVCChlorinated plastic abbreviation
PET · nylon · acrylic · polycarbonate · styrofoam · vinyl · fiberglass · Teflon · Kevlar · silicone
landfill
Waste burial ground
debris · refuse · rubbish · scrap · discards · junk · packaging · disposables · microplastics · e-waste
permanent
Fixed without end
- indestructibleImpossible to damage permanently
- durableAble to withstand use
- long-lastingPersisting over extended time
resistant · stable · impervious · enduring · unyielding · unbreakable · persistent · inert · immortal · everlasting
pollution
Environmental harm from waste
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
sustainability · decomposition · conservation · biodiversity · bioaccumulation
harmful
Causing damage or injury
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- contaminatedMade impure by contact
- leachingDissolving out by liquid
BPA · phthalates · bioaccumulative · hazardous · noxious
nonbiodegradablebiodegradable
Able to decompose naturally
compostable · decomposable · degradable · organic · perishable
degrade, degraded, biodegradable, biodegrade, biodegradation, degradable, biodegrades, biodegraded, biodegrading