Tyrolean researchers are working on a method to recycle waste better and more environmentally friendly. The focus is on plastics. The state is financing the project.
The world is choking on plastic waste! A bleak picture that is supported by figures: currently, more than 460 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide each year. A third of this is packaging with a very short lifespan.
Almost half of plastic waste is produced in industrialized countries such as Austria. The average recycling rate for plastic in this country is still a modest 25 to 30 percent. According to the EU, 50 percent of plastic should be recycled by 2025 and 55 percent by 2030.
Tyrolean research project is based on bacteria
Achieving these goals requires great efforts. A Tyrolean research project focuses on bacteria with a craving for plastic.
This form of biorecycling uses enzymes – proteins from naturally occurring bacteria – to break down plastic waste into its components. These substances can then be processed back into plastic products. Microbes that break down plastic are being studied at a disused landfill near Innsbruck.
At the same time, voracious bacteria hungry for plastic will be cultivated and an enzymatic product for the breakdown of plastic waste will be developed. The state is financing the research project with 220,000 euros until 2026.
Source: Krone
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