Woollacott, Emma. “Plastic-Eating Fungus Could Help Deal with Landfill.” Tech Guru Daily. TG Daily, 6 Feb. 2012. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
Within a South American rain forest, researchers from Yale University discovered a fungus that lives off plastic materials. Specifically found in Ecuador, it’s called pestalotiopsis microspora, and it breaks down polyurethane all on its own. The Yale team found one particular enzyme in the fungus, a serine hydrolase, was responsible for the polyurethane disposal. This discovery offers hope that we can find more efficient, environmentally friendly ways of decreasing waste and landfills. It is by far a major advancement from the former disposal method of burning plastic into the atmosphere.
