Plastic-Eating Worms Could Finally Help Takeout Containers Break Down Naturally

Plastic waste has been a thorn in humanity’s side for a long time now, and scientists have been grappling to find answers and solutions to the problem. But could a tiny insect that used to eat away at our plants, now eat away at our plastic? 

Plastic bags, containers, utensils, and Styrofoam are made from polystyrene and also make up most of our plastic waste. This sort of waste is notoriously hard to process and, as such, most recycling plants don’t take it in.

At long last, scientists at the University of Queensland in Australia have found that beetle larvae are able to digest polystyrene.

The Zophobas Morio larvae carry bacterial enzymes in their gut that can digest polystyrene. The enzymes digest polystyrene, which in turn provides nutrients to the larvae that promote their growth.

The process of breaking the plastic down in their system is known as metagenomics, and it works just as regular food would for humans.  

Although this might seem like the solution we have been waiting for, it’s simply not feasible on its own. Plastic-eating worms would need to work in tandem with all the efforts already being made by scientists and regular folk to help us remain sustainable into the future.  

[via Bloomberg and Forbes, cover image via The University of Queensland Australia]