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Characterization and Potential Evaluation of Plastic-Degrading Fungi Isolated from Kaliabu Landfill, Indonesia
Summary
Fungi isolated from an Indonesian landfill, particularly Aspergillus and Cladosporium species, reduced the mass of low-density polyethylene by up to 22% over 28 days, demonstrating meaningful biodegradation potential. Identifying indigenous plastic-degrading microorganisms is important for developing biological treatment strategies that could reduce the environmental accumulation of LDPE, a common source of microplastics.
Plastic waste accumulation in landfills poses significant environmental challenges, particularly in tropical regions, where environmental exposure accelerates material deterioration. This study aimed to isolate and characterise indigenous fungi with biodeterioration potential for low-density polyethylene (LDPE) from the Kaliabu landfill site in Madiun, Indonesia. Ten fungal isolates were obtained using selective enrichment techniques, with polyethylene as the sole carbon source. Morphological characterisation tentatively assigned the isolates to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma, Rhizopus, Mucor, Neurospora, Fusarium, Cladosporium, and Aureobasidium. The biodeterioration potential of the isolates was evaluated using a 28-day LDPE weight loss assay under laboratory conditions. The results revealed varying degrees of LDPE mass reduction, ranging from 2.79%–22.14%. Isolates KL1 and KL4 (Aspergillus) and KL9 (Cladosporium) exhibited the highest weight-loss percentages, with values of 22.11%, 21.91%, and 22.14%, respectively. Moderate LDPE mass reduction was observed in isolates belonging to the genera Penicillium, Trichoderma, and Fusarium (15.32–18.18%), whereas isolates affiliated with Rhizopus, Mucor, and Neurospora showed lower activity (<12%). As this study represents a preliminary screening based on weight-loss measurements, further analyses using physicochemical and molecular approaches, such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), are required to confirm polymer structural modification and elucidate the mechanisms involved in fungal–plastic interactions. Overall, these findings highlight the diversity of landfill-derived fungi and their potential relevance to environmentally sustainable plastic waste management strategies.