Scientists Train Bacteria to Turn Waste Into Plastic

What if the tiniest creatures on Earth could solve our biggest waste problems?

Biotechnologist and TED Fellow Patricia Aymà Maldonado believes bacteria are the most incredible organisms on the planet. She just proved it by teaching them to eat our trash and create something useful.

Maldonado has developed groundbreaking technology that trains bacteria to convert organic waste into biodegradable plastic. The material behaves just like traditional plastic but breaks down naturally after use.

The process tackles two environmental challenges simultaneously. Food waste and organic materials that would normally rot in landfills become raw material for bacteria. Those bacteria then produce plastic that doesn't linger in oceans and ecosystems for centuries.

Traditional plastics come from petroleum and persist in the environment for hundreds of years. Maldonado's bacterial plastic offers the same functionality without the permanent environmental damage.

The technology works by essentially teaching bacteria new tricks. Scientists guide these microorganisms to metabolize organic waste differently, transforming it into polymers that can replace conventional plastics.

The Ripple Effect

This innovation could revolutionize how industries approach both waste management and manufacturing. Companies might soon convert their organic waste streams into their own packaging materials.

The plastics industry has long struggled to find truly sustainable alternatives. Most "biodegradable" plastics require specific industrial composting conditions to break down. Maldonado's approach creates materials that naturally decompose while maintaining the durability people expect from plastic.

Food producers generate massive amounts of organic waste daily. Instead of paying to dispose of it, they could potentially transform it into revenue-generating materials.

The bacterial process also requires far less energy than traditional plastic manufacturing. Petroleum extraction, refining, and polymerization consume enormous resources. Bacteria work at room temperature using natural biological processes.

Maldonado presented her findings at TED Fellows Films 2025, joining other innovators working on solutions to global challenges. Her research demonstrates how biotechnology can create circular economy solutions where waste becomes a resource.

The technology is still developing, but early results show real promise. As scaling challenges get solved, bacterial plastic could appear in consumer products within years rather than decades.

One scientist's fascination with tiny organisms might just reshape how humanity handles two of its messiest problems.