# Explain why the majority of plastics used in everyday products are difficult to dispose of responsibly, and describe one way in which scientists have tried to address this problem.

> OCR A-Level Chemistry B: Salters (H433) — PL Polymers and life · Explain · 5 marks

> Billions of tonnes of plastic waste are generated globally each year. Most of this waste ends up in landfill or the natural environment, where it persists for hundreds of years. Chemists are working to develop alternatives that reduce this environmental burden.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Most plastics are made from synthetic polymers
2. The polymer chains are not broken down by microorganisms (non-biodegradable)
3. This means they persist / accumulate in the environment for a very long time
4. Scientists have developed biodegradable polymers (e.g. made from plant starch / cornstarch) that can be broken down by microorganisms
5. This reduces the amount of plastic that accumulates / reduces environmental impact / reduces landfill waste

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