Since 2021, a French company named Carbios has been running an operation that uses a bacterial enzyme to process about 250kg of PET plastic waste every day, breaking it down into its precursor molecules, which can then be made directly into new plastic. It’s not quite composting it back into the earth itself, but Carbios has achieved the holy grail of plastic recycling, bringing it much closer to an infinitely recyclable material like glass or aluminium.
That’s a significant step forward from when the last time I read up on the plastic eating bacteria. Granted, I’d prefer it if it was recycled into something other than more plastic… but I’ll still take it.
I think it’s highly likely there’s a catch, like you have to grow 250 tons of bacteria. Usually there is with amazing advances which get a news story but not a lot of reaction from other academics.
They’re still in the process of genetically engineering the bacteria, so their efficiency is still a work in progress.
There’s also the issue that economies of scale tip heavily in plastics direction,
It’s not a carbon neutral process. There’s significant both heating and cooling involved.
And, it doesn’t really solve the issue of retiring plastics.
The last update I read on the bacteria, prior to the genetic engineering, mentioned that the bacteria didn’t actually like the plastic and would only really break it down for want of something more practical. Presumably that has been solved, but I didn’t see it brought up in the article.
The article explains that they use the bacteria to basically break down the plastic into two solutions, which they ultimately recombine into plastic—seemingly out of lack of any other practical use for the results.
I’m not a scientist, I don’t know what could be a better use for the results of the bacteria doing their job. And seemingly, neither do the scientists, but it’s still a very young project in the grand scheme of things.
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/germany-climate-seagrass/
People restoring sea grass to the Baltic Sea.
https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/08/the-serial-killer-and-the-texas-mom-who-stopped-him
This woman stopped a serial killer.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/28/plastic-eating-bacteria-enzyme-recycling-waste
Plastic eating bacteria could change the world.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-28/quoll-thought-extinct-found-south-australia/102911364
An animal called a quoll thought to be extinct for 130 years has been rediscovered.
That’s a significant step forward from when the last time I read up on the plastic eating bacteria. Granted, I’d prefer it if it was recycled into something other than more plastic… but I’ll still take it.
I think it’s highly likely there’s a catch, like you have to grow 250 tons of bacteria. Usually there is with amazing advances which get a news story but not a lot of reaction from other academics.
They’re still in the process of genetically engineering the bacteria, so their efficiency is still a work in progress.
There’s also the issue that economies of scale tip heavily in plastics direction,
It’s not a carbon neutral process. There’s significant both heating and cooling involved.
And, it doesn’t really solve the issue of retiring plastics.
The last update I read on the bacteria, prior to the genetic engineering, mentioned that the bacteria didn’t actually like the plastic and would only really break it down for want of something more practical. Presumably that has been solved, but I didn’t see it brought up in the article.
This feels like an ice 9 situation
Well, how would we change it from plastic into something else?
The article explains that they use the bacteria to basically break down the plastic into two solutions, which they ultimately recombine into plastic—seemingly out of lack of any other practical use for the results.
I’m not a scientist, I don’t know what could be a better use for the results of the bacteria doing their job. And seemingly, neither do the scientists, but it’s still a very young project in the grand scheme of things.
deleted by creator
Don’t worry, we’ll invent a type of plastic immune to this bacteria and start the whole process anew!
As an aside, ‘plastic eating bacteria’ have been ‘discovered’ countless times over the past several decades.
Possibly due to each discovery being some bacteria that eat exactly 1 chemistry of plastic.
: )
deleted by creator
No idea about that, but your bringing up the issue reminded me of the movie Andromeda Strain…
“Just as he has this insight, the organism mutates into a non-lethal form that degrades synthetic rubber and plastic”
Apparently there’s a TV show based on the same story.
That Vanity Fair story is one of the craziest things I’ve ever read, thanks for sharing!
Isn’t that bonkers? I read it twice I was so interested.
Nice! As a follow up, is there a good app/source to get more positive articles Ike this regularly?
Also enjoy this article on drive in sex boxes in Zurich, giving a new meaning to public spaces: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/26/zurich-drive-in-garages-prostitutes
I tend to read Metafilter (https://www.metafilter.com/), it’s not all good news but it’s a weblog of really interesting content.