Scientists Work To ‘Up Cycle’ Plastic
Scientists are developing a new recycling process using bacteria to turn PET plastic into a biodegradable plastic that could replace the cellophane in food packaging, according to Science News.
The process could encourage more recycling of the billions of plastic bottles consumed every year.
PET, the plastic used to make water bottles, is usually recycled into a lower-grade plastic, or “down cycled.” The new process would “up cycle” PET into polyhydroxyalkanoate, or PHA, which is much more valuable. PHA is also biodegradable, giving it an environmental advantage.
Scientists are researching to see if the process proves economically and environmentally feasible for large-scale production.
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