THE FUNGI THAT ATE PLASTIC
Australian scientists have isolated common fungi species from plants and soil that can be harnessed to break down polypropylene, a plastic widely used in many everyday items such as takeaway containers and cling film.
Like most plastics, polypropylene doesn’t readily degrade and only about 1 per cent is currently recycled so it represents a massive environmental pollution and resource challenge.
Professor Abbas, who leads the team of researchers at the University of Sydney, is the
