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Plastic-Eating Fungi
August 21 , 2024
95 days
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- Scientists in Germany have identified plastic-eating fungi.
- Of the 18 selected fungal strains, four efficiently utilise the plastics, especially the polyurethane which is used to make construction foam.
- Polyethylene, used in plastic bags and packaging, was much slower to degrade.
- Plastic is made from fossil carbon and if the mushrooms break it down, it’s no different to us burning oil or gas and releasing CO2 into the atmosphere.
- Some 390 million tonnes of plastic were produced worldwide in 2021, up from 1.7 million tonnes in 1950.
- But, less than 10% of plastic wastes only recycled worldwide.
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