Summary
As the world struggles with how to dispose of plastic, some scientists hope microorganisms might hold part of the answer. Researchers are scouring hot springs, trash dumps, beaches, and forests for microbes whose enzymes can break down tough plastic polymers. Some enzymes have already been found that break down a plastic commonly used to make drink bottles and polyester clothing. In the lab, those enzymes are being tweaked to dismantle plastic polymers more quickly and at higher temperatures. But major hurdles remain before such an approach can make a major dent in the plastic trash problem. Skeptics caution that enzymes work too slowly, or don’t work at all on certain common types of plastics. Commercial success hinges partly on competing against low-cost fossil fuels used to make most plastics today.