Though poly(alkenes)s are extremely important in everyday such as their use as plastics, the disposal of these polymers is problematic
Poly(alkenes) are very large alkane molecules which are unreactive and therefore do not undergo any chemical reactions; they are resistant to chemical attack
Due to their unreactivity, polymers are non-biodegradable and take up to hundreds of years to decompose when dumped in landfill sites
Throwing away poly(alkenes) therefore cause the long-term pollution of the environment
Burning the polymers results in harmful combustion products which again cause the pollution of the environment
Exam Tip
The disposal of polymers is a challenge due to their unreactivity, their non-biodegradability, and the formation of harmful combustion products when burnt.