The essentiality of plastics in our daily life is inseparable. Almost all
industrial sectors utilize plastics either directly or indirectly. But the downside of
plastics also increased simultaneously. These materials increased water and soil
pollution due to unmanaged discharge. Hence, plastic waste treatment becomes
essential for a sustainable and efficient environment. Plastic recycling and degradation
are two processes to deal with plastic waste. Out of the three degradation processes,
physical, chemical, and biological, biological degradation is near to a sustainable
environment. Recent studies revolve around the use of micro-organisms for the
degradation of plastics. The present chapter reports the microbial degradation of plastic
waste using bacteria and fungi. The discussion also includes the impact of plastic
properties and environmental factors on biodegradation.
Keywords: Plastics, Plastic waste, Degradation, Microbes, Bacteria, Fungus, Waste management.
