--- title: Alternatives to recycling - Plastic eating worms description: Could plastic-eating worms offer an alternative to recycling? image: https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(24).png --- [![wasteplan logo_white and yellow](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/hs-fs/hubfs/AAA%20-%20NEW%20BRAND%202023/wasteplan%20logo_white%20and%20yellow.png?width=270&height=70&name=wasteplan%20logo_white%20and%20yellow.png "wasteplan logo_white and yellow")](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/) # Alternatives to recycling - Plastic eating worms By [Bertie Lourens](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/author/bertie-lourens) 25th April 2018 [Recycling](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/recycling) [![Alternatives to recycling - Plastic eating worms](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(24).png)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/alternatives-to-recycling-plastic-eating-worms)  **Could plastic-eating worms offer an alternative to recycling?** Growing concern about the damaging effects of plastic pollution both on the environment and on human health has researchers looking for alternatives to recycling, which alone [may not be effective enough](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/28/plastic-crisis-urgent-recycling-bottles-no-fix).   Researchers are starting to think laterally about the problem, and the hunt is on for creatures that can digest plastics – but faster than fungi and bacteria.  *The Economist* recently reported on a breakthrough finding that [mealworms are able to consume plastics](https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2018/05/26/another-way-to-recycle-plastic?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/ed/anotherwaytorecycleplasticwormfood), according to a study in *Environmental Science & Technology.* It was found that mealworms have bacteria in their gut that can help to quickly break down polymers.  During a 32 day experiment where the worms were fed polyethylene and polystyrene (some mixed with wheat bran) – [more than 90% of the worms survived](https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2018/05/26/another-way-to-recycle-plastic?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/ed/anotherwaytorecycleplasticwormfood).  It was also found that the chemical process in the gut of the worms converted 50% of the polystyrene and 45% of the plastics into carbon dioxide. Jenna Jambeck, an environmental engineer who conducted a 2015 study on the topic found that nearly [19 billion pounds of plastic](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/plastic-waste-oceans_us_58fed37be4b0c46f0781d426) ends up in the ocean each year, and the number is expected to double by 2025. Plastic waste poses a threat to entire ecosystems, killing animals and putting human health at risk as [microplastics make their way into the food chain](https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/plastic-pollution-harms-oceans-health/). --- > *To read the full story, [click here](http://fortune.com/2018/05/27/plastic-crisis-worms/) * > > --- ## Did you know - [WastePlan](http://www.wasteplan.co.za/) currently offers a recycling service at more than [450 businesses countrywide](http://www.wasteplan.co.za/industries/).  We also service approximately 100 000 residences in Cape Town. - Businesses can [contact us](http://www.wasteplan.co.za/contact-us/) for a [free waste audit](http://www.wasteplan.co.za/waste-audit/) and competitive quotation for [on-site waste management](http://www.wasteplan.co.za/waste-management/) and [recycling](http://www.wasteplan.co.za/recycling/) Your waste has a value! That means that not only could you be saving money by knowing what waste you have, but you could potentially make money from your waste. --- ***We offer a free gap analysis for you to determine the value of your waste as well as how we can reduce your current waste to landfill, click the button to get your Gap Analysis for free.*** [![Gap Analysis](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4001940/428c49cc-b9e3-4192-bd93-96cedaf73b3e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4001940/428c49cc-b9e3-4192-bd93-96cedaf73b3e)   ### **Sign up for our monthly newsletter** [![What can you recycle](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4001940/1be954d0-27f0-48ea-9a4d-8c5fc5ac7f2d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4001940/1be954d0-27f0-48ea-9a4d-8c5fc5ac7f2d) ### CATEGORIES - [Waste Management (53)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/waste-management) - [Cost Efficiency (12)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/cost-efficiency) - [Social Responsibility (11)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/social-responsibility) - [Recycling (8)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/recycling) - [Compliance (7)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/compliance) - [Waste Legislation (4)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/waste-legislation) - [ESG (2)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/esg) - [Insider (2)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/insider) - [SHEQ (1)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/sheq) - [SMARTMATTA (1)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/smartmatta) See all ### RECENT POSTS ### Previous Post Waste reduction VS Waste disposal and reducing your carbon footprint ### Next Post Recycling: Johannesburg city takes action ![Bertie Lourens](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/hubfs/Untitled%20design.png) ### *Author* Bertie Lourens [More posts by Bertie Lourens](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/author/bertie-lourens) ##### SUSTAINABILITY - [ESG](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/esg-environmental-social-and-governance-explained-by-wasteplan/) - [Sustainability Indicators](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/#:~:text=Sustainability%20Indicators) - [Sustainability Audits](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/#:~:text=Sustainability%20Audits) - [Health and Safety](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/#:~:text=Sustainability%20Audits-,Health%20and%20Safety,-Corporate%20Social%20Investment) - [Corporate Social Investment](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/#:~:text=Corporate%20Social%20Investment) - [Iso Certification](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/iso-certification-waste-management/) ##### SITEMAP - [Resources](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/resources/) - [GAP Analysis](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/waste-management-services/waste-audit/) - [View our disclaimer](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/mail-disclaimer/) - [Terms & Conditions](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/terms-and-conditions/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/privacy-policy/) - [PAIA Manual](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PAIA-Manual.pdf) - [Careers](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/careers/) ##### ABOUT - [The WastePlan Promise](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/about/#promise) - [Our Values](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/about/#values) - [Sales & CRM Team](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/about/#team) - [Nika](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/about/#nika) ##### CONTACT **[Book a waste gap analysis](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/waste-management-services/waste-audit/)** to find out how we can reduce your waste to landfill. - [086 111 6699](https://ycik.co.za/staging/wasteplan-and-smartmatta-customer-testimonials/#) - [info@wasteplan.co.za](mailto:info@wasteplan.co.za)   We manage waste on-site in a way that it will save you money, assist you with compliance and reduce waste to landfill. We sort and recycle as much as possible before disposing only the minimum waste to landfill. 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