Backyard Fungi Found to Efficiently Break Down Plastic

Scientists have discovered two strains of fungi, Aspergillus terreus and Engyodontium album, that can break down polypropylene, a hardy plastic used to make bottle caps and food containers, in just 140 days. The fungi degraded between 25 and 27 percent of samples after 90 days, and the plastic was completely broken down after 140 days. The researchers believe their work is an "important stepping stone" in designing practical biological ways to treat plastic waste. While plastic-munching bacteria have been able to break down 90 percent of PET in just 16 hours, fungi are attracting attention for their versatility and ability to degrade all sorts of synthetic substrates with a powerful concoction of enzymes.