Plastic Eating Worms Show Promise for Plant-Scale Recycling

The Zophobas morio ‘superworm’ can eat through polystyrene. Image supplied by University of Queensland

Researchers at the University of Queensland have found that a common species of worm with a taste for polystyrene may significantly contribute to plastic recycling.

The team, led by Dr Chris Rinke from UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, found that the Zophobas morio—known as ’superworm'—enjoys munching on polystyrene and can metabolise it due to a particular bacterial enzyme in its gut.