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What are the environmental costs of using plastic?
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The environmental costs of using plastic are numerous and include the pollution of our oceans and rivers, the destruction of natural habitats, the release of toxins and chemicals into our air, water and soil, the accumulation of plastic waste in landfills, and the depletion of our natural resources. Plastic also contributes to global warming due to the production of greenhouse gases resulting from the manufacture, transport and incineration of plastics. Additionally, some plastics can leach chemicals into the environment, particularly when exposed to sunlight. Finally, plastic in landfills can take hundreds of years to degrade, contaminating soil and groundwater in the process.