The Tiny Heroes Eating Away our Plastic Problem

This posting is inspired from the scheduled talk of Dr. Ed Church💚 at 11AM today at our Cinema(see brochure above).  I hope you attend.  

The Tiny Heroes Eating Away at Our Plastic Problem

For decades, plastic has been hailed as one of humanity’s greatest inventions. Lightweight, durable, and inexpensive—it reshaped the modern world. Yet its very durability became its curse. Today, plastic waste is choking oceans, filling landfills, and breaking down into microplastics that enter the food chain. Scientists estimate that it takes hundreds of years for most plastics to degrade naturally. But what if nature already had a solution hidden in the tiniest of life forms?

The Famous Plastic-Eater: Ideonella sakaiensis

In 2016, Japanese researchers stumbled upon a remarkable bacterium in a PET bottle recycling plant: Ideonella sakaiensis. This microbe doesn’t just tolerate plastic—it thrives on it. It produces special enzymes, PETase and MHETase, which can break down PET (polyethylene terephthalate), one of the most common plastics, into its building blocks.

Instead of lingering in the environment for centuries, plastic in the presence of these microbes can degrade in weeks under controlled conditions. Scientists have even engineered “super enzymes” based on I. sakaiensis, making them faster and more efficient.

Plastic-Degrading Fungi

But I. sakaiensis isn’t alone. Fungi, with their powerful digestive enzymes, have also been recruited into the war against plastics.

• Aspergillus tubingensis – A soil fungus discovered in a Pakistani dump site that can break down polyurethane plastics (commonly used in foams, furniture, and adhesives). Its enzymes essentially “chew” through the plastic’s bonds.

• Pestalotiopsis microspora – Found in the Amazon rainforest, this fungus can survive solely on polyurethane, even in oxygen-free environments. That makes it especially promising for landfills where oxygen is scarce.

Marine Bacteria on the Frontlines

Since so much of our plastic ends up in the ocean, it’s no surprise that marine microbes have adapted to tackle the problem:

• Alcanivorax borkumensis – Known for breaking down oil spills, this ocean-dwelling bacterium has also shown potential in degrading certain plastics.

• Other salt-loving bacteria and microbes found on “plastisphere” communities (biofilms that form on floating plastic debris) are slowly evolving to digest the very material they colonize.

Why This Matters

These discoveries hint at a future where biological solutions complement recycling. Instead of burying plastics in landfills or burning them, we could deploy enzymes or microbes in specialized facilities to turn waste into reusable raw materials.

The Challenges Ahead

But there are hurdles. Microbes work slowly in nature, and scaling them for industrial use requires careful engineering. There are also ecological risks—releasing engineered organisms into the wild could disrupt delicate ecosystems.

Still, the progress is promising. In 2020, researchers combined enzymes from I. sakaiensis to create a “super enzyme” six times faster at digesting PET. Other labs are investigating fungal cocktails to speed up breakdown of mixed plastics.

A Lesson in Humility

To me, there’s something poetic here. For all our technological sophistication, the answers to some of our most pressing crises may lie in the quiet persistence of bacteria and fungi. While humans created the plastic age, nature may guide us through its cleanup.

The fight against plastic pollution is far from over. But with the help of these microscopic allies—from recycling plant bacteria to rainforest fungi and ocean microbes—we may yet turn the tide.

💚Meanwhile, here's what I found on the Internet on Edward Church, Ph.D 

Institute for Environmental Entrepreneurship

Over the past 30 years, Edward Church has had wide-ranging experience in government, nonprofits and private business. Ed has served as the Executive Director of the Institute for Environmental Entrepreneurship since 2007, during which time he also had a part-time appointment with the Green MBA program of Dominican University in San Rafael. He won an award for innovation from the San Francisco Business Times as well as awards from the State of California, the County of Alameda and the City of Oakland. Ed was the Chief of Staff for the Mayor of Berkeley. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, and the Mentoring Center and the Workforce Collaborative, both in Oakland. Ed was the founding Executive Director of the Berkeley Community Fund and for 20 years was a consultant and program executive for the Trio Foundation. Adding to his experience in the field of philanthropy, Ed directed the Livable Communities Initiative at the East Bay Community Foundation, a unique project that promoted smart growth and transit-oriented development. This led to his spending a sabbatical year as a Visiting Scholar at the Institute for Urban and Regional Development at UC Berkeley before coming to IEE. Previously, Ed was Program Director at Urban Strategies Council, an anti-poverty think-tank based in Oakland, California. He was the Founding Executive Director of Brighter Beginnings, a maternal and child health organization, going strong since 1984. Ed Church received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley in 1977.  

Lastly, here's a discussion on Problem of Plastic Disposal Today:

The problem with plastic disposal is that plastics don't naturally decompose and instead break down into microplastics, leading to pollution of land, water, and air, which harms wildlife and human health. Poor waste management results in vast amounts of plastic accumulating in landfills, oceans, and the environment, with only a small fraction being recycled.Disposal via incineration releases greenhouse gases, and even recycling can spread microplastics and harmful chemicals into ecosystems. This cycle of production, disposal, and the widespread nature of plastic pollution poses risks to biodiversity, food safety, and economic stability. 

Microplastics are small plastic pieces less than five millimeters long which can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life.

People also ask

Is microplastic harmful?

Regarding the effects on the respiratory system, microplastics may cause oxidative stress in the airways and lungs when inhaled, leading to respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath due to inflammation and damage, as well as fatigue and dizziness due to a low blood oxygen concentration.

Environmental Impacts

• Pollution: 

  Plastic waste pollutes soil, rivers, lakes, and oceans, forming massive amounts of trash, such as the garbage truck equivalent dumped into oceans every minute. 
• Biodiversity Loss: 

  Plastic debris can entangle and be ingested by animals, leading to injury or death and disrupting habitats. 
• Microplastic Contamination: 

  Plastics break into tiny microplastics that persist for centuries and can be found in soil, water, and air. 
• Chemical Leakage: 

  Chemicals can leach from plastics in landfills, contaminating soil and groundwater, and from plastics in the ocean. 

Human Health Impacts 

• Food and Water Safety: 

  Microplastics and the chemicals they carry can enter the human food chain and drinking water, posing potential health risks.
• Health Hazards: 

  Toxic chemicals in plastics can disrupt endocrine systems, increase cancer risks, and cause other health problems.

Economic & Social Impacts

• Damaged Economies: 

  Fishing and tourism are negatively impacted in coastal communities and small island nations by plastic pollution. 
• Disproportionate Impact: 

  Communities that contribute minimally to plastic pollution often suffer the most from its effects, including the marginalized communities of waste pickers who work in poor conditions to manage the waste. 

Challenges with Current Solutions

• Limited Recycling: 

  The global recycling rate for plastic is very low, with most plastic waste accumulating in landfills, being incinerated, or leaking into the environment. 
• Incineration Issues: 

  Burning plastic releases greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change, and can also emit other toxic pollutants. 
• Recycling's Limitations: 

  Even when plastic is recycled, the process can release microplastics and expose workers and recycled products to harmful chemicals. 

  
  
  
  
  

  Microplastics are small plastic pieces less than five millimeters long which can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life.

  People also ask

  Is microplastic harmful?

  Regarding the effects on the respiratory system, microplastics may cause oxidative stress in the airways and lungs when inhaled, leading to respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath due to inflammation and damage, as well as fatigue and dizziness due to a low blood oxygen concentration.