Meet The Fungi That Feast On Plastic In Record Time: A Breakthrough In Recycling Crisis

Good news, folks! Australian scientists have discovered a new way to tackle plastic waste that could make a real difference to the world's recycling crisis. They found that two types of fungi, Aspergillus terreus and Engyodontium album, which are usually found in plants and soil, can be used to break down small samples of polypropylene, which is used to make things like takeaway containers, ice-cream tubs, and cling film. After being exposed to ultraviolet rays or heat, it took just 140 days for the fungi to completely break down the plastic. This is a significant discovery, and Professor Ali Abbas, who supervised the research team, said it's the highest degradation rate ever reported in the literature. But wait, it gets even better! The researchers believe this technology could be scaled up to process thousands of tonnes of plastic each year, and it could ease the burden of the global recycling crisis within a few years. That's right, folks, just a few years! And the best part? The same techniques are already being used in different fields, so scaling up the process will be straightforward. Of course, this doesn't mean you can use as much plastic as you want. The experts warn that while the technology may be a few years away, we still need to reduce our plastic waste. We have an addiction to plastic, and we need to start taking it seriously. Humans generate 400 million tonnes of plastic waste per year, and 175 million tonnes of that ends up in landfill or pollutes the environment. That's enough plastic waste to rebuild a 6,000km stretch of the Great Wall of China every 12 months! So, let's not wait around. We need to act now, and this technology could be a crucial part of the solution. The researchers will continue to tweak the process to make it faster and more efficient, but we also need to address the behavioural, social, and business issues around plastic waste. The technology is only half the solution, but it's a pretty good start!