Where does plastic go when thrown away?

Like paper, plastic bags can end up in two places: the landfill or the recycling center.

If a plastic bag ends up in a landfill, it will stay intact for thousands of years.  Plastic does not compost.  With plastic products in the mix, garbage does not have a chance to break down over time.  Plastic is fabulous in that it is recyclable.  All you have to do is basically re-melt and re-form.  The re-melting process also sterilizes the plastic thus allowing any recycled plastic to be made into hospital grade products.  Plastic can be recycled many times before it becomes brittle - then it can be made into something as functional as a mousepad or a doormat.  Please note that not all plastic bags can be recycled and many stores that collect them, simply send them to the landfill for lack of another alternative.