Vinyl chloride recalcitrance

Interest in environmentally degradable polymers began more than thirty years ago, when it was first recognized that the commonly used commodity packaging plastics such as polyolefins, poly(vinyl chloride, polystyrene, and poly(ethylene terephthalate) were accumulating in the environments in which they were discarded, after use. Since these polymers were developed for their resistance properties, it should not have been surprising that they were recalcitrant in landfills and as litter when disposed of in a negligent manner. 

Vinyl chloride rates rates-recalcitrant half-life (days) % rates recalcitrant potential for biodegradation 27 0 14 0 almost always 4 0 8 0% almost always 5 0 0.462 0% almost always 15 0 80 0% almost always 7 0 58 0% almost always... 

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