With plastics being non-biodegradable and persisting for hundreds of years, a lot of trash remains untreated in garbage dumps. Attempts to solve this problem have largely been unsuccessful until recently when Chinese scientists discovered a plastic-eating fungus in Pakistan.
According to a study by the World Economic Forum, Aspergillus tubingensis, a fungus is able to break down waste plastics in a matter of weeks that would otherwise persist in the environment for years. It was found on a rubbish dump in the capital city of Islamabad.
The study observed that temperature and pH balance of its surroundings, as well as the type of culture medium in place, had an impact on its performance.
Researchers are now trying to figure out what conditions would be needed to replicate this process.