In this study, the screening of plastic degrading microbes was done by using opaque method separately for bacteria and fungi. Four bacterial species and two fungal species which formed most opaque were used for further studies. The bacterial species was identified as Bacillus amylolyticus, Bacillus firmus, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas fluroscence. Their effectiveness on the degradation of commercial polythene carry bags of Low Density Polyethylene was studied over a period of 30 days in shaker culture under laboratory conditions by weight determination method and it was found that Bacillus sp. isolated from Garbage soil degrades the plastic up to 32%. This work reveals that Bacillus amylolyticus posses greater potential to degrade plastics when compared with other bacteria.
Keywords: Biodegradation, FTIR, Microorganisms, Plastics
