Several ways in which non-biodegradable substances would affect the environment are-

• Certain fertilizers and pesticides like DDT, when used in excess can reduce soil quality and decrease its fertility.

• These pesticides like DDT get into the food chain and are transferred from one trophic level to another, and accumulate in high concentration at the highest trophic level, which prove toxic to the organism at the highest point in food chain. This process is referred to as biological magnification.

• Certain non-biodegradable materials like plastic and polythene bags cannot be recycled easily; they take thousands of years to recycle. These may be eaten by stray animals like cows and cause toxicity in them, leading to their death ultimately.

• Wastes released into water bodies from industries are usually non-biodegradable and hence they pollute the water bodies.