Question

can bacteria break down plastic?

Answer 1

heya....

your answer is:

Bacteria cannot break down plastic. Because the bacteria only can break down the biodegradable materials.

It may help you....☺☺

Answer 2

My speculation is that it is very unlikely bacteria could be able to breakdown any plastic which is not already biodegradable. This is due to a fundamental chemical inertness of many plastics. Degradation would have to occur through enzymes, and enzymes are limited in what they can react with since they have constraints on their chemistry and structure. Cellulose-based plastics are broken down because bacterial cellulase is capable of disassembling the polymers that make up the plastic