Biosphere Plastic Contamination and Microbial Alternatives for a Sustainable Degradation of Plastic Waste

In the mid-twentieth century, the solid waste generated was mostly made of biodegradable materials. However, the invention of plastic and its widespread use have led to a staggering accumulation of plastic in the environment, posing a severe threat to the biosphere. The environmental degradation of plastic can take thousands of years and poses a significant concern for environmental and human health. Until recently, it was thought that some plastics were non-biodegradable; however, there are microorganisms capable of degrading both plastics derived from fossil resources and those from biomass or renewable resources. This review aims to highlight the impact of plastic waste on the environment and the biosphere, as well as the great taxonomic diversity of microorganisms potentially linked to plastic degradation. Research in plastic biodegradability includes the identification of bacteria, fungi, archaea, and algae from virtually any environment: soil, atmosphere, landfills, freshwater, seawater, marine sediments, rumen, and waxworm guts. Identifying microbial consortia that degrade plastic and improving their degrading activity could shorten the plastic degradation time and reduce its uncontrolled accumulation around the globe. Research in this field is vital for advancing biodegradable plastics and elucidating the potential and limitations of microbial degradation as a large-scale approach to plastic pollution.