Article 69TW6 Oyster mushrooms expected to break down toxins and microplastics in cigarette butts in Australian trial

Oyster mushrooms expected to break down toxins and microplastics in cigarette butts in Australian trial

by
Henry Belot
from on (#69TW6)

Up to 1.2m butts to be diverted from landfill to a laboratory where scientists will work to transform the byproduct into a polystyrene replacement

Up to 1.2m cigarette butts could be consumed by oyster mushrooms that break down toxins and microplastics as part of a trial funded by the Victorian government.

Up to 9bn plastic cigarette butts are discarded in Australia each year, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature, seeping harmful microplastics and chemicals such as arsenic into waterways and soil.

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