Scientists discovered that bacteria commonly found in wastewater can break down plastic to turn it into a food source, a finding that researchers hope could be a promising answer to combat one of Earth’s major pollution problems.
In a study published Thursday in Environmental Science and Technology, scientists laid out their examination of *Comamonas testosteroni*, a bacteria that grows on polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, a plastic commonly found in single-use food packaging and water bottles. PET makes up about 12 percent of global solid waste and [90 million tons](https://www.nrel.gov/news/program/2021/researchers-engineer-microorganisms-to-tackle-pet-plastic-pollution.html) of the plastic produced each year.
“The machinery in environmental microbes is still a largely untapped potential for uncovering sustainable solutions we can exploit,” said Ludmilla Aristilde, senior author on the study and associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northwestern University.
Unlike most other bacteria, which thrive on sugar, *C. testosteroni* has a more refined palate, including chemically complex materials from plants and plastics that take longer to decompose.
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Scientists discovered that bacteria commonly found in wastewater can break down plastic to turn it into a food source, a finding that researchers hope could be a promising answer to combat one of Earth’s major pollution problems.
In a study published Thursday in Environmental Science and Technology, scientists laid out their examination of *Comamonas testosteroni*, a bacteria that grows on polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, a plastic commonly found in single-use food packaging and water bottles. PET makes up about 12 percent of global solid waste and [90 million tons](https://www.nrel.gov/news/program/2021/researchers-engineer-microorganisms-to-tackle-pet-plastic-pollution.html) of the plastic produced each year.
“The machinery in environmental microbes is still a largely untapped potential for uncovering sustainable solutions we can exploit,” said Ludmilla Aristilde, senior author on the study and associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northwestern University.
Unlike most other bacteria, which thrive on sugar, *C. testosteroni* has a more refined palate, including chemically complex materials from plants and plastics that take longer to decompose.
Read more here: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2024/10/03/plastic-eating-bacteria-pollution-solution/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2024/10/03/plastic-eating-bacteria-pollution-solution/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)