Abstract
Plastic waste has become one of the most serious environmental challenges due to its extensive use, resistance to natural degradation, and continuous accumulation in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Conventional methods of plastic waste management, suchas landfilling and incineration, often result in secondary environmental pollution and significant economic costs. Therefore, the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches to plastic degradation has attracted increasing scientificinterest. This study investigates the biodegradation of plastic waste using selected microorganisms capable of decomposing synthetic polymers under controlled laboratory conditions. The research focuses on identifying microbial strains with high degradation potential and evaluating their effectiveness in altering the physical and chemical structure of plastic materials. Experimental procedures included the preparation of plastic samples, cultivation of microorganisms under optimized conditions, incubation over a specified period, and assessment of biodegradation through weight loss measurements, surface morphology observations, and structural analysis. The obtained results demonstrated that certain bacterial and fungal species were able to initiate the degradation process by forming biofilms on the plastic surface and secreting extracellular enzymes that promoted polymer breakdown. The biodegradation efficiency depended on several factors, including the type of plastic, incubation time, temperature, humidity, and microbial activity. Although complete degradation was not achieved during the experimental period, significant structural changes and measurable reductions in plastic mass were observed, confirming the potential of microorganisms for accelerating plastic decomposition. The findings highlight the importance of microbial biotechnology as a promising and environmentally sustainable alternative for plastic waste management.