September 22, 2008

Bugs used for recycling

It has been discovered a bacteria could help with the disposal of plastic item that are normally dumped in landfill sites and take several hundred years to degrade. Instead of this practice, continuing these plastics could end up being used for recycling.

The bacterium is known as Pseudomonas and they can be used on the low grade plastics like those used in drinks bottles. The bacteria will convert the plastic into a usable biodegradable plastic called PHA.

This could make a big difference to this market, because billions of plastic bottles are made each year, yet less than a quarter are recycled. Using this new method will enable the other bottles to be converted into PHA and at the time, ease the pressure on landfills.

Source [ABC News]