Scientists at the University of Waterloo have engineered bacteria found in wastewater treatment plants to break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics, a common plastic found in various products. PET plastics take hundreds of years to degrade, and they break down into microplastics, which can enter the food chain and cause health problems. By introducing a new trait into these bacteria through a natural process called “bacterial sex,” researchers have enabled them to break down microplastics. The bacteria, like “biorobots,” can be programmed to clean up microplastics in wastewater treatment plants, reducing the risk of plastic pollution. This technology could also help address concerns about antibiotic resistance. The next step is to model how well the bacteria can transfer the new genetic information and degrade plastics under different environmental conditions. The long-term goal is to break down microplastics in wastewater treatment plants and potentially in oceans as well.
Using Edible Microorganism, We Can Naturally Break Down Plastic Debris
