Isolation of the Polythene Degrading Bacteria from the Dumping Area of Jabalpur

Plastic pollution, particularly from polyethylene, poses a significant environmental challenge worldwide. In this study, bacterial isolates capable of degrading polyethylene were obtained from the dumping area of Jabalpur, India. The isolation process involved sampling soil and waste materials from the dumping site and culturing them on M9 media supplemented with Polyethylene glycol. Screening of bacterial isolates was performed using staining with Coomassie blue R -250 to visualize zones of clearance around colonies, indicating potential polyethylene degradation. The selected bacterial isolates were further characterized using morphological, biochemical, and molecular methods to identify their species and assess their polyethylene -degrading capabilities. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of microbial plastic degradation and provide insights into potential biotechnological applicationsfor plastic waste management in Jabalpur and beyond.