Plastic-eating backyard fungi discovery boosts hopes for a solution to the recycling crisis

When used with UV light or heat, this fungus can break down polypropylene plastic. (Supplied: Amira Farzana Samat, University of Sydney)

Australian scientists have successfully used backyard mould to break down one of the world's most stubborn plastics — a discovery they hope could ease the burden of the global recycling crisis within years. 

Experiments conducted by researchers at the University of Sydney, published in science journal npj Materials Degradation, found that two types of fungi could be harnessed to attack small samples of polypropylene, which is used to make items like takeaway containers, ice-cream tubs and cling film.