What is Biospheric Degradation

In contemporary society, the production and use of plastics is growing due to their assorted applications. However, these tendencies result to production of plastic waste whose effects to the environment are destructive. This chapter explores the production tendencies of plastics and plastic-waste chronologically, discusses its negative environmental effects, and proposes the adoption of biodegradation as a management approach. A number of effects including death, retarded growth and development, emergence of cancers, and altered physiology are associated with ingestion of plastics in animals and humans. Water and air pollution is associated with unscientific disposal of plastic waste resulting to leaching and release of greenhouse gases. The use of microbes such as bacteria and fungi that have inherent enzymes such as lipases, esterases, hydrolases, and amylases is discussed as a sustainable solution to the plastic menace. The successful use of biodegradation must be coupled with scientific research to optimise the factors influencing the process.