Amazonian Rainforest Fungus Eats Polyurethane, Potentially Solving a Big Landfill Problem
Plastic Bags in Landfill Samuel Mann via Flickr To the multitude of arguments for protecting rainforest biodiversity, here's a new addition: An Amazonian fungus could eat our most durable landfill waste. A group of students from Yale found the fungus during an expedition to Ecuador and learned it breaks down polyurethane. This plastic is one of those modern chemical compounds found in so many products, it's pointless to count - from Spandex to garden hoses, for a start - and it is prized for both its flexibility and rigidity. The problem is that like many other polymers, it does not break down readily. This means it persists in landfills, as Fast Company points out. It burns pretty well, but that releases carbon monoxide and other gases into the atmosphere, so it's a nonstarter in most situations. Something that can degrade it naturally would be a better solution. The fungus called...