Degradation of Plastics Waste and Its Effects on Biological Ecosystems: A Scientific Analysis and Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Ever since previously several decades, there has been a severe problem with plastic waste disposal and contamination due to the improper use of plastics for a variety of applications, including packaging, transportation, manufacturing, and agriculture in rural as well as urban regions. It takes about 100 years for plastic bags to decompose in an effective manner. Plastic contributes to environmental degradation and exacerbates the issue of climate change not only because it exacerbates the waste management problem and land filling but also because its combustion releases carbon dioxide and dioxins into the atmosphere. It has been shown that the techniques currently used for the disposal of plastic are insufficient for the efficient management of plastic waste; as a result, there is a rising worry about the utilization of effective microorganisms that are intended for the biodegradation of synthetic polymers that are not biodegradable. Microbes have the capacity to degrade the majority of inorganic and organic materials, including lignin, starch, cellulose and hemicelluloses. Biodegradable polymers are engineered to breakdown quickly in the presence of microbes because of this ability. Within the scope of this review, topics covered include the current state of affairs, processes of degradation of plastics, methodologies for characterizing deteriorated polymers, and variables that impact the biodegradation of plastics.