The primary environmental impact of plastic pollution is the detriment it causes to marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Plastics take hundreds of years to decompose and can lead to the death or injury of wildlife that ingest or become entangled in plastic debris. Microplastics, small fragments resulting from the breakdown of larger items, can enter the food chain, posing risks to both biodiversity and human health. Addressing plastic pollution requires concerted efforts in waste management, public policy, and consumer behavior to reduce plastic use and promote recycling.