Sofia Martinez
Plastic is a human-made material that has been in circulation for just over a century. Its durability is a double-edged sword—while it has improved our lives, it also has a detrimental impact on the environment. Plastic does not easily decompose, and the full extent of the damage it causes is unknown. However, it is estimated that plastic can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to break down, depending on the material and structure. This process of decomposition is called photodegradation, which requires sunlight, not bacteria, to break down the carbon bonds in plastic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic decomposition time | 20 to 500 years, depending on the material and structure |
| Plastic decomposition process | Photodegradation, a type of decomposition that requires sunlight (UV light) |
| Plastic decomposition products | Microplastics, smaller plastic pieces that may be more damaging than whole plastics |
| Biodegradable plastics | Plant-based plastics made from corn or sugarcane; petroleum-based plastics with modified chemical bonds |
| Plastic-eating bacteria | Discovered at a dumpsite; used in "living plastic" |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic-eating bacteria
Plastic is designed to last for decades, if not hundreds of years. It can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years for plastic to decompose, depending on the material and structure. The durability of plastic is due to its chemical bonds, which are not naturally found in organic matter. This makes plastic harder to break down and more energy-intensive to recycle.
The recent discovery of plastic-eating bacteria offers a potential solution to the plastic waste problem. In 2001, Japanese scientists led by Professor Kohei Oda discovered a species of bacteria at a rubbish dump that feeds on plastic. The bacteria, named Ideonella sakaiensis, produce an enzyme that breaks down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the most common plastic in clothing and packaging. This discovery has led to a growing business of bioremediation, where bacteria, fungi, and plants are engineered to remove plastics, chemicals, and pollutants from contaminated soil and water.
Since 2021, the French company Carbios has been using a bacterial enzyme to process PET plastic waste, breaking it down into precursor molecules that can be used to create new plastic. This process brings plastic recycling closer to the concept of infinitely recyclable materials like glass or aluminum.
Researchers from ACS Central Science have also developed a plastic-eating E. coli that can transform PET waste into adipic acid, a compound used to make nylon materials, drugs, and fragrances. This innovation expands the possibilities for upcycling plastic waste into valuable starting materials for other products.
The search for new plastic-eating microbes continues, with microbiologists like Simon Cragg exploring the potential of PET-eating microbes in the mangrove swamps of Vietnam and Thailand. These microbes could hold the key to tackling the vast amounts of plastic waste that threaten our environment.
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Decomposition in oceans
Plastic is one of the most enduring materials ever created by humans. It can take hundreds of years for plastic to degrade, and it may never fully degrade, instead breaking down into microplastics. These microplastics are tiny particles of plastic that can be ingested by marine animals, entering the food chain and leading to disastrous consequences for the health of the planet and all its inhabitants.
The yearly economic costs of plastic in the ocean are estimated to be between $6-19 billion USD, impacting tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, and cleanups. Plastic pollution is one of the main causes of marine species extinction, health problems for humans and animals, and the destruction of ecosystems.
While it is challenging to determine the exact amount of plastic in the ocean, scientists estimate that about 8 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean in 2010. This plastic comes from a variety of land and ocean-based sources and enters the water in many ways, such as through streams and storm drains. Once in the water, plastic debris can float or break into smaller pieces, known as microplastics. These microplastics can absorb harmful pollutants like pesticides, dyes, and flame retardants, which they later release into the ocean.
Recent research has found that plastic breaks down at cooler temperatures than previously thought and within a year of entering the water. This decomposition releases potentially toxic chemicals, such as bisphenol A, into the sea, posing a threat to marine life and humans. However, the extent and impact of plastic decomposition in the ocean vary across different regions, with water temperatures playing a significant role.
To address the issue of plastic pollution in oceans, it is crucial to prevent plastic waste from entering the ocean in the first place. This can be achieved through replacement, reduction, reuse, and recycling of plastics. Additionally, initiatives like beach cleanups and global cooperation are essential to mitigate the impact of plastic pollution on the health of the oceans and the planet as a whole.
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Decomposition in landfills
Plastic is a human invention that has only been in circulation since 1907. It is designed to last decades, if not hundreds of years, and does not occur in nature. As a result, plastic does not decompose in the same way that organic matter does. While organic materials like wood, grass, and food scraps biodegrade and are transformed by bacteria in the soil into other useful compounds, plastic tends to break down into smaller and smaller particles, known as microplastics, until they are too small to be seen. These microplastics can be even more damaging than whole plastics as they enter the food web and are consumed by organisms like shrimp and plankton, leading to physical harm and nutritional deprivation.
The time it takes for plastic to break down depends on various factors, including the material and structure of the plastic, as well as exposure to sunlight. Some plastics can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose. For example, single-use plastic grocery bags can take about two decades to break down, while plastic water bottles made with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) can take approximately 450 years to fully decompose in landfills. The long decomposition process of plastics is due to the chemical bonds in plastic, which are different from the molecular bonds of organic matter, making it harder and more energy-intensive to break them down.
To accelerate the breakdown process, landfills often expose plastic waste to sunlight, a process known as photodegradation. Sunlight provides ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which breaks down the molecules in plastic. However, plastic buried in landfills rarely sees the light of day, and as plastic degrades, it can leak toxins into the surrounding soil, causing further environmental issues.
While the full extent of the damage caused by plastic pollution is still unknown, it is clear that plastic waste has a significant impact on the environment. To address this issue, researchers have been developing new types of plastic, such as biodegradable plastics or bioplastics, which are designed to be easily broken down by nature. Additionally, some scientists have created plant-based plastics using corn or sugarcane, while others have modified the chemical bonds of petroleum-based plastics to make them more biodegradable. Another promising discovery is the identification of plastic-eating bacteria, which can survive the toxic chemicals released during the plastic breakdown process.
Despite these innovations, the only effective way to break down plastic currently is through photodegradation. This process can be enhanced by exposing plastic waste to UV light, as in the case of plastic in the ocean, which can degrade in as little as a year due to the constant motion and UV light exposure. While plastic pollution remains a pressing issue, ongoing research and innovations offer hope for developing more sustainable solutions to address the environmental impact of plastic waste.
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Biodegradable plastics
Plastic is designed to last for decades, if not hundreds of years. It is estimated that some plastics can take up to 500 years to fully break down, and even then, they may only break down into smaller pieces known as microplastics. The longevity of plastic in the environment has led to a growing interest in biodegradable plastics as a potential solution to the plastic pollution problem.
There are two main classes of biodegradable plastics: bioplastics, which are derived from renewable raw materials, and plastics made from petrochemicals with added biodegradable additives to enhance biodegradation. Biodegradable plastics are commonly used for disposable items such as packaging, cutlery, and food service containers. They can be formed into packing materials, extruded, and injection-moulded using conventional machines.
While biodegradable plastics offer an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plastics, their effectiveness depends on proper waste management. Many biodegradable plastics are designed to degrade in industrial composting systems, which require well-managed waste systems. If these plastics end up in landfills or the natural environment, they may not break down as intended, contributing to pollution.
Recent innovations, such as the discovery of plastic-eating bacteria and new processes that make biodegradable plastics truly compostable, offer promising solutions to enhance the biodegradability of plastics. For instance, scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a method to make compostable plastics break down more easily using just heat and water within a few weeks. These advancements are crucial steps towards reducing plastic pollution and promoting more sustainable practices.
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Extrapolation methods
Plastic has only been in circulation since 1907, and there is no firsthand evidence of plastic completely breaking down. Therefore, our understanding of its persistence is limited to extrapolation methods that estimate its decomposition timelines. These methods include laboratory simulations, observations, and experiments for shorter times, which are then used to extrapolate.
One such extrapolation method is the use of the specific surface degradation rate (SSDR) to estimate half-lives. SSDR values vary depending on the type of plastic and the environment, with some plastics having an SSDR range from practically 0 to approximately 11 μm year–1. Using a mean SSDR for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in the marine environment, linear extrapolation leads to estimated half-lives ranging from 58 years (bottles) to 1200 years (pipes).
Another approach is to conduct accelerated aging tests that reproduce natural degradation mechanisms but at amplified intensity. These tests can involve exposing plastic to sunlight, which breaks down the molecules through a process called photodegradation. By observing the rate of photo-degrading over a short period, extrapolations can be made about the long-term decomposition of plastic.
Additionally, respirometry tests are used to estimate degradation rates. These tests involve placing a solid waste sample, such as a plastic bag, in a vessel containing microbe-rich compost and aerating the mixture. Over several days, microorganisms break down the sample and produce carbon dioxide, with the resultant CO2 level serving as an indicator of degradation.
It is important to note that extrapolation methods can lead to errors, especially when assuming constant degradation rates or pseudo-zeroth-order behavior. For example, a plastic film with a certain SSDR would take 100 years to degrade completely following a pseudo-zeroth-order rate law, but nearly 500 years if the reaction is first-order degradation.
Despite these extrapolation methods, it is challenging to determine the exact decomposition timeline for plastic due to its complex chemical structure and the varying environmental conditions in which it degrades.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose, depending on the material and structure. However, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that plastic takes 500 years to decompose. Some studies have shown that plastic starts to break down into microplastics within a few weeks.
The rate at which plastic breaks down depends on sunlight exposure. Plastics absorb ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, which breaks down their molecules. This process is called photodegradation. Additionally, plastic buried in landfills rarely receives sunlight exposure, which is why landfills expose plastic waste to the sun to accelerate the breakdown process.
Yes, there are a few innovative ways to break down plastic. Scientists have discovered plastic-eating bacteria that can survive the toxic chemicals released during the breakdown process. Researchers have also developed "living plastic" by embedding bacteria spores that break down plastic into solid plastic. When an enzyme is applied to activate the spores, the plastic degrades in 6 to 7 days.
As plastic degrades, it can release toxic chemicals into the environment and leak toxins into the surrounding soil. These toxins can contaminate groundwater and pose serious threats to the environment. Microplastics, which are tiny pieces of plastic that result from the breakdown process, can be ingested by marine wildlife, leading to physical damage and nutritional deprivation. These microplastics then move up the food chain, threatening the survival of essential organisms in marine ecosystems.
