Waxworm gut microbes can eat polyethylene, says Chinese research

In China, scientists have discovered a bacteria from the guts of a worm that can degrade polyethylene in one step. The research found that at least two strains of a moth larva, known as a waxworm, have gut microbes that could degrade polyethylene without a pretreatment step. The research is being reported in Environmental Science & Technology. Applications of this bacteria could help reduce plastic waste.

The research is funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the National Basic Research Program of China, and the Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Bioenergy.

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