Cold-loving microbes found to break down plastics

Scientists have discovered microbes that can digest plastics at low temperatures, which could be a valuable tool in recycling. The microbes were found in the Alps and the Arctic and can work at 15C, making them more cost-effective and carbon-neutral than other plastic-digesting microbes that require higher temperatures. The researchers tested 19 strains of bacteria and 15 of fungi and found that 56% of them could digest biodegradable polyester-polyurethane and biodegradable mixtures of polybutylene adipate terephthalate and polylactic acid. The next step is to identify the plastic-degrading enzymes produced by the microbes and optimize the process to obtain large amounts of proteins.