Relevance for UPSC: GS Paper III – Environment & Climate Change

Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Every year, millions of tonnes of plastic waste end up in oceans, rivers, and landfills — harming marine life, entering food chains, and threatening ecosystems. In a breakthrough, scientists have discovered ocean bacteria capable of breaking down plastics using special enzymes — offering a glimmer of hope in tackling the global plastic crisis.

How It Works

Plastic materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE) are extremely resistant to natural degradation. Recently, researchers identified marine bacteria that secrete plastic-degrading enzymes, which can convert plastics into simpler organic compounds. However, scientists also warn that some of these microbes carry antibiotic resistance genes, highlighting the complex relationship between pollution, microbial life, and human health.

Other Bioremediation Innovations

Besides ocean bacteria, several biological approaches are being developed to address plastic and environmental pollution:

• Plastic-eating fungi such as Aspergillus tubingensis and Ideonella sakaiensis can degrade synthetic polymers.
  
• Bioengineered enzymes like PETase and MHETase accelerate plastic decomposition.
  
• Oil-degrading microbes are used to clean up marine oil spills, as in bioremediation trials off India’s coasts.
  
• Phytoremediation, using plants like vetiver and sunflower, helps absorb heavy metals and pollutants from soil and water.
  

Policy Context in India

India has been actively pursuing sustainable waste management under the Plastic Waste Management Rules (2024) and the Single-Use Plastics Ban (2022).
Government agencies like the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are funding research in bio-remediation and green chemistry.
At the global level, India’s efforts align with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Plastics Treaty and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 12 and SDG 14).

Key Challenges

While microbial and enzyme-based solutions are promising, large-scale application faces hurdles such as:

• Limited efficiency in open-water environments.
  
• Risks of altering microbial ecosystems.
  
• Need for controlled, safe deployment and waste segregation at source.
  

Biotechnology offers an exciting frontier — but prevention, recycling, and responsible consumption remain the foundation of any long-term solution.

UPSC Prelims Question

Which of the following statements are correct?

1. Certain ocean bacteria can secrete enzymes that break down plastic polymers.
   
2. Bioremediation methods in India include the use of plants and fungi to remove pollutants.
   Select the correct answer:
   (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither
   Answer: (c)
   

One-line Wrap:

Nature’s tiny warriors — from bacteria to fungi — are showing us that the future of plastic cleanup may lie not in machines, but in microbes.