Plastic is difficult to break down

Many countries lack the infrastructure to efficiently recycle plastic bags.Cotton totes are perhaps even more difficult to breakdown and process,but since they're often reused for long periods,they're still least likely to end up in landfills.Whenever these bags aren't recycled,the third factor in calculating environmental impact comes into play:degradability.Since HDPE bags are heat-resistant and insoluble,they stick around long after we're done with them.Partially broken down plastic can circulate in ecosystems for centuries.