Microbes and plastic waste management

Abstract

Environmentalists around the globe are concerned about emission of greenhouse gases, depletion of ozone, synthetic and non-degradable chemicals-produced by the industry in the form of fertilizers, pesticides, plastics, polymers, etc. Microbes are involved in many processes that help in improving the environment; bacteria, fungi, protozoa, bacteriophages and even nematodes are responsible for environmental sustainability as they contribute in several ways in the ecosystems. Removal of heavy metals from ground water and soil, increasing soil fertility, nitrogen fixation, nutrients solubilization, eating bad microbes, degrading the plastic, producing the biodegradable plastic; just to name some mechanisms these organisms use for improving the environment.