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We are just getting started’: the plastic-eating bacteria that could change the world (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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When a microbe was found munching on a plastic bottle in a rubbish dump, it promised a recycling revolution. Now scientists are attempting to turbocharge those powers in a bid to solve our waste crisis. But will it work?

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[–] [email protected] 31 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (4 children)

This bacteria eats only one type of plastic (PET), and that's a minority of the plastic we produce

Related, half of the plastic pollution in the oceans is fishing nets; want less plastic in the environment, stopping fishing would be a better first step (and is required for many other reasons anyway)

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago

The other fun trick with the plastic eating bacteria articles is to never mention what the bacteria produces from the plastic. Let the reader assume that whatever is being produced is better than the plastic itself.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago

Holy shit the net thing is shocking, I have never heard that before.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago

They'll stop fishing soon anyway when the natural stocks have completely collapsed.😭