A team of Japanese scientists discovered a strain of bacteria that can eat a certain type of plastic, known as PET, which is commonly found in disposable water bottles.
According to a new study, published on Friday in the journal Science, evaluated if the bacteria in question could degrade PET and was conducted under laboratory conditions.
Scientist Kenji Miyamoto from Keio University, who was part of the study, says a new bacteria named Ideonella sakainesis, could help break down and consume plastic.
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The report found that "Ideonella sakaiensis breaks down the plastic by using two enzymes to hydrolyze PET and a primary reaction intermediate, eventually yielding basic building blocks for growth."
The findings could lead to new methods to manage the more than 50 million tons of this particular type of plastic produced globally each year, experts predict.
Most of the plastic produced in the last 50 years still exists somewhere on the planet, because plastic takes so long to decompose. For example, according to the environmental website greenfeet.net, plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to disintegrate in a landfill.
Environmental watchdog groups argue that industry producers must be held accountable for extending the life cycle of plastic products, which currently last less than one year before it the products are thrown away.
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