Biodegradable Plastic is a variation of plastic that has been treated so it will break down at a faster rate than its conventional counterpart. This means that once dumped in a landfill, the disposed item that is made from biodegradable plastic will decompose, leaving more space, allowing the landfill to be used for a longer period.

While it is useful, biodegradable plastic is not without some controversy. Though it is biodegradable as the name suggests, biodegradable plastics are still made with petrochemical plastics. In addition, the remains from the decomposing materials will not always be harmless substances.

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Other Sources

Woodford, Chris. “Bioplastics.” http://www.explainthatstuff.com/bioplastics.html. Accessed July 11, 2016.