Vernon students examine ways to break down plastics using mushrooms

“The selenium (nutrient in mushrooms) excretes an enzyme that breaks up the molecular structure in polymer and then it turns them into microplastics and then into an organic matter that it uses to grow more mycelium (fungus root structure) off of.”

Oyster mushrooms growing out of a plastic container (Photo courtesy of Anna MacDuff)

The group had originally planned on creating a composting system using mushrooms to eliminate plastic waste, but found they didn’t have the time or resources necessary to launch the project ahead of the Climate Action Ripple Effect (CARE) Summit on Dec. 1, so instead researched what kinds of mushrooms would be effective for this concept and presented the information to some other local students.

“We went down to [Okanagan Landing Elementary] and taught a class [of Grade 7s], and then we went back again and taught them more in-depth stuff about the particular fungus that break down plastic and we gave them a [quiz] to do,” Shaver told Vernon Matters.

“When we went there, we taught them how plastics are harming the environment, and then how certain fungus can help decompose them in a matter of weeks or months.”

The group also wanted to address how mushrooms are sometimes perceived as “gross” or “dangerous” and wanted to dispell those myths, though they did note there are some poisonous species of mushrooms and they do not encourage anyone to pick and consume unknown or wild mushrooms.

The Fulton students presenting information on how fungi can be used to decompose plastic to students at Okanagan Landing Elementary (photo courtesy of Anna MacDuff)

Through working in partnership with an interpretive naturalist, Roseanne Van Ee, who is acting as a project mentor, as well as through some local connections at the Allan Brooks Nature Centre, Okanagan Science Centre and local businesses, the group learned there are some particular fungi species that are effective at breaking down plastics.

“The one that is able to decompose plastics in just a few weeks is pestalotiopsis microspora; and then there’s the tubengenos aspergillus, which is a mold that can break it down in just a few month,” MacDuff explained.

“And then there’s the split gill mushroom, which is in the same family of oyster mushrooms (which are edible and are native to B.C.).”

MacDuff added outside research has found mushrooms that were edible to begin with, such as oyster mushrooms, remain edible and are not harmful to people if consumed after breaking down plastics.

The group noted pestalotiopsis microspora could be very useful in decomposing plastics in landfills as it doesn’t require oxygen to survive and thrives on polyethylenes, such as those used in plastic bags or bottles.

That practice is not currently used in landfills and Spicer said they want to reach out to the local landfill and explore the possibility of using the fungus to decompose local trash, but they have yet to take those steps, adding “we’re still on the research and spreading awareness part of this project.”

The group noted using fungi to break down plastics does not result in the release of microplastics, which occurs when broken down in other manners such as incineration and can be harmful to living organisms.

Shaver said microplastics can damage human cells, with MacDuff adding they can be specifically harmful to cells that have to do with allergy reaction.

Shaver also noted microplastics that seep into the ground make the earth unstable and hard to build on.

The group will put together a presentation on their research for the CARE Summit on Dec. 1 at the Vernon Recreation Centre.

They are currently growing oyster mushrooms to see how quickly they produce, and MacDuff said they have plans to build a prototype following the event to personally test the mushrooms’ ability to break down shredded plastics.

The group noted they currently do not have any plans to teach other classes about the topic, but would be open to going to more schools in the future.

by Liam Verster

Vernon students examine ways to break down plastics using mushrooms

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