Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of biodegradable plastics?

The characteristic that is not associated with biodegradable plastics is that they degrade quickly in non-biological environments. Biodegradable plastics are designed to break down primarily through the action of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, rather than through non-biological processes. In non-biological environments, such as landfills or oceans, these plastics may persist for a long time because there are insufficient microorganisms to facilitate their breakdown.

In contrast, biodegradable plastics typically do break down completely when they are in the presence of suitable micro-organisms, making option B an accurate description of their behavior. Additionally, many biodegradable plastics are derived from natural materials, such as corn starch or other plant-based components, which aligns with option C. Finally, biodegradable plastics are increasingly used in various packaging applications, providing an eco-friendlier alternative to traditional plastics, thus making option D accurate as well.