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A Breakthrough Discovery
Scientists in Japan have discovered a strain of bacteria that can eat plastic, a finding that might help solve the world’s fast-growing plastic pollution problem. The findings, published in the academic journal ‘Science’ on Friday, say 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.”
Why is the discovery important?
In 2009, 2.12 million tons of plastics (of all kinds) were recycled in the United States. However, that was only 7.1% of all plastics generated in 2009.
Eighty percent of pollution to the marine environment comes from the land.14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling and that there will be more plastic than fish calculated by weight in the world’s oceans by 2050.
Almost a third of all plastic packaging escapes collection systems and ends up in nature or clogging up infrastructure according to the World Economic Forum
The Logical Indian applauds the scientists on this discovery, we hope other countries could pool in their research capabilities towards potential discoveries that could reverse the damage caused by human beings on earth.
