Abstract

The development of either degradable plastic or suitable microorganisms to degrade plastics would be the best
strategies for plastic waste problem. In this study, six different types of packaging plastics varying in starch (low-
density polyethylene [LDPE], 10%, 20% 30%, 40%, and 50% of LDPE starch) were studied for biodegradability
of soil amended with microbial consortium in compost reactor. A laboratory scale bioreactor was used to study
the biodegradability of two best degraded samples in soil and compost. In compost bioreactor, the weight loss
in 50% starch-blended LDPE was 10.06% and was 0.0343% for pure LDPE on day 65. Finally, the study was
done to know the biodegradability of commercial plastics in soil, and it was found that microbial consortium can
degrade LDPE. The study results showed that the degradation in terms of weight loss was 19.8% on day 100. The
loss in tensile strength was 81.24% on day 97, respectively. The percentage elongation also decreased by 13.70%
and 68.27% on day 71 and 100, respectively. The total organic carbon was 30.63 mg on day 100. The phosphates
and nitrates showed a decrease by 92.04% and 96.16%, respectively.