Bacteria And MicroWaves Convert Waste Into New Plastic
Scientists have found a cheap method for making biodegradable plastic from waste.
476 kg. That is how much waste the average EU citizen is responsible for annually. Most of it is burned to generate power and heat, but now, scientists aim to convert part of the waste into new bioplastic.
By means of bacteria and microwaves, the EUbacked SYNPOL research project can convert waste into the polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer. The plastic type can be used to make packaging, but as it can be broken down naturally, it can also be used for medical tools such as surgical suture. Moreover, the process is cheap, which is very important, as bioplastic cannot yet compete with oil-based plastic types, when it comes to price.