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Exploring the Role of Microbes in the Biodegradation of Plastic Waste: Mechanisms, Interactions, and Implications for Sustainable Waste Management-A Review
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This review examines how insects and their gut microbiota use specialized enzymes to biodegrade complex plastic polymers, breaking down plastic waste into non-harmful compounds in a process that could represent a sustainable waste management alternative. Understanding these microbial mechanisms is critical given that 91% of plastic waste goes unrecycled, with the remainder fragmenting into microplastics that contaminate soil, air, and oceans.
Plastic is one of the most widely produced materials globally, with annual production exceeding 380 million tonnes (Mt) and pervasive use in daily products like single-use cups and personal care items. Despite its ubiquity, 91% of plastic waste remains unrecycled and is expected to reach 460 Mt by 2025, creating severe environmental challenges. Plastic waste, which does not biodegrade, breaks down into harmful microplastics that persist in ecosystems, contaminating soil, air, and oceans. Around 11 Mt of plastic enter the oceans annually, threatening marine life through ingestion and entanglement. Globally 9% of plastic were only recycled and 22% mismanaged in 2024, urgent improvements in waste management and consumer awareness are essential. Despite being an old, yet sustainable alternative to traditional means of managing waste, substantial knowledge gaps still exist in the biodegradation process and efficiency. Here, this review sheds light on how plastic wastes affect biodiversity and ecological health, citing the roles of insects and their gut microbiota in direct association with plastic biodegradation. These organisms have specific enzymes at their disposal that can virtually degrade complex plastic polymers into simpler, non-harmful compounds. The study emphasizes the interactions taking place between the insects and their gut microbes through enzymatic degradation, underscoring the possible importance of remedying problems caused by plastic pollution. This review also opens up the potential for further research into these biological agents and degrading enzymes as solutions to help mitigate the environmental impacts of plastic waste. In the future, researchers could focus on capturing the natural degradation activity of insects and their correlated microorganisms to develop the most effective waste management strategies and contribute significantly to a sustainable future with reduced burdens of global plastic pollution
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