Review on Microbial Degradation of Bio-plastic and its Potential in Waste Pollution Reduction

Plastic pollution is a critical environmental challenge due to the persistence and nonbiodegradablenature of conventional plastics. Bioplastics, derived from renewable resourcessuch as corn starch and sugarcane, have emerged as sustainable alternatives; however, theirbiodegradability varies widely depending on environmental conditions and microbial activity.Microbial biodegradation, where bacteria and fungi break down bioplastics into simplercompounds like carbon dioxide and water, offers a promising approach to mitigating plasticwaste. Different bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA),exhibit distinct degradation behaviors, with PLA requiring industrial composting conditionsand PHA being more biodegradable in natural environments. Biodegradation is influenced bytemperature, moisture, pH, and the composition of microbial communities, and standardizedtesting methods such as ISO and ASTM provide essential tools for assessment. Despiteprogress, significant gaps remain, including limited studies under real-world conditions,insufficient comparative analyses of different bioplastics, and underdeveloped strategies forenhancing microbial degradation and integrating it into large-scale waste management. Thisreview provides a comprehensive analysis of microbial biodegradation of bioplastics,examining environmental and microbial influences on degradation, comparing differentbioplastic types, evaluating testing methodologies, and exploring strategies to improvedegradation efficiency and practical application. By synthesizing current knowledge andidentifying pathways for improvement, this review aims to inform future research and advancesustainable solutions to plastic pollution.