Plastic bags are one of the most versatile carry bags. They are also feasible for businesses since they are cheaper than paper and cloth bags. Compared to paper bags, plastic bags are stronger and resistant to water. Hence, many customers prefer to use plastic bags. Apart from using to carry groceries, plastic bags are also re-used by many to line their trash cans. However, once they are disposed of, plastic bags are serious environmental hazards. They do not degrade and accumulate over time and fill up landfills and waterbodies and choke drainage systems. Here are 5 ways in which plastic bags have been found to be harmful to the environment. Issues with landfill Plastic bags are difficult to recycle. Bags made from polyethylene can be recycled into new plastic bags, drainage pipes, composite lumber, or outside the fencing. However, the process of recycling requires that the plastic bag does not have any moisture; in order to be recycled, it is necessary that food or other water-based materials have not been stored in the plastic bags. This reduces the percentage of plastic bags that are recycled. The bags that do not undergo recycling accumulate on the landfills. This increases the volume of the landfill since the plastic bags take a very long time to decompose.