Microbial Degradation of Plastics

Abstract

The essentiality of plastics in our daily life is inseparable. Almost all industrial sectors utilize plastics either directly or indirectly. But the downside of plastics also increased simultaneously. These materials increased water and soil pollution due to unmanaged discharge. Hence, plastic waste treatment becomes essential for a sustainable and efficient environment. Plastic recycling and degradation are two processes to deal with plastic waste. Out of the three degradation processes, physical, chemical, and biological, biological degradation is near to a sustainable environment. Recent studies revolve around the use of micro-organisms for the degradation of plastics. The present chapter reports the microbial degradation of plastic waste using bacteria and fungi. The discussion also includes the impact of plastic properties and environmental factors on biodegradation.<br>