Mutant enzyme could break down plastic bottles for recycling in hours, scientists say

[Anonymous]

Scientists say they've "engineered" a mutant bacterial enzyme that can easily break down plastic bottles for recycling in a matter of hours.



Originally discovered in a compost heap by researchers in 2012, the enzyme reduces the bottles to their initial chemical building blocks which are then recycled to make brand new bottles.



The researchers, which were comprised of scientists from France-based "green chemistry" company Carbios and the Université de Toulouse, discovered that the improved enzyme breaks down 90 per cent of plastic bottles within a span of 10 hours — a significant increase from the initial enzyme degradation of just one per cent after several weeks.



According to the United Nations, as much as 300 million tonnes of plastic waste is created every year, as of 2018. They also estimate that since the 1950s, more than eight billion tonnes of plastic have been produced worldwide — with about 60 per cent of those plastics ending up in either a landfill or the natural environment.

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This is a significant scientific innovation with the potential reduce wasted plastic. But, my gut tells me it will not be implemented in the developing world where almost all the oceans plastic waste originates from.

[cc]

Exactly. It's great news at first glance  .. the West can implement it and "feel good" justifiably .. whereas what we are doing today is virtually meaningless .. and horridly costly



 but your gut is right based on past real experience of billions in China and other highly populated countries that don't give a shit.

[Anonymous]

Exactly. It's great news at first glance  .. the West can implement it and "feel good" justifiably .. whereas what we are doing today is virtually meaningless .. and horridly costly



 but your gut is right based on past real experience of billions in China and other highly populated countries that don't give a shit.

You and Seoul are right as both of you usually are..



Still, it's a breakthrough in recycling.

[Anonymous]

Exactly. It's great news at first glance  .. the West can implement it and "feel good" justifiably .. whereas what we are doing today is virtually meaningless .. and horridly costly



 but your gut is right based on past real experience of billions in China and other highly populated countries that don't give a shit.

Like Fash said, it is a breakthrough. But, because the world's biggest polluters probably won't implement new recycling technologies, it becomes virtue signalling in the West and nothing more. On the other hand, it could also save money.

[Anonymous]

So, it's a nothing burger.

[cc]

.. in the sense that  China & Co will always pollute their and ultimately our air and water, yes it is



It would do some good in N Am  and Europe

[Anonymous]

.. in the sense that  China & Co will always pollute their and ultimately our air and water, yes it is



It would do some good in N Am  and Europe

Because it will only become standard practice in the West and the wealthy countries of East Asia, it's more of a money/time saver than a enviro breakthrough. Our plastic does not end up in oceans anyway.