Eat My Plastic Bag

[rkmsuf]

Or what the hell were all the other scientists in the world doing? This kid figured it out in his kitchen.

Every other scientist in the world - FAIL

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WCI student isolates microbe that lunches on plastic bags

DAVID BEBEE, RECORD STAFF 1


WATERLOO

Getting ordinary plastic bags to rot away like banana peels would be an environmental dream come true.

After all, we produce 500 billion of them a year worldwide, and they take up to 1,000 years to decompose. They take up space in landfills, litter our streets and parks, pollute the ocean and kill the animals that eat them.

Now a Waterloo teenager has found a way to make plastic bags degrade faster -- in three months, he figures.

Daniel Burd's project won the top prize at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Ottawa. He came back with a long list of awards, including a $10,000 prize, a $20,000 scholarship, and recognition that he has found a practical way to help the environment.

Burd, 16, a Grade 11 student at Waterloo Collegiate Institute, got the idea for his project from everyday life.

"Almost every week I have to do chores and when I open the closet door, I have this avalanche of plastic bags falling on top of me," he said. "One day, I got tired of it and I wanted to know what other people are doing with these plastic bags."

The answer: not much. So he decided to do something himself.

He knew plastic does eventually degrade, and figured microorganisms must be behind it. His goal was to isolate the microorganisms that can break down plastic -- not an easy task because they don't exist in high numbers in nature.

First, he ground plastic bags into a powder. Next, he used ordinary household chemicals, yeast and tap water to create a solution that would encourage microbe growth. To that, he added the plastic powder and dirt. Then the solution sat in a shaker at 30 degrees.

After three months of upping the concentration of plastic-eating microbes, Burd filtered out the remaining plastic powder and put his bacterial culture into three flasks with strips of plastic cut from grocery bags. As a control, he also added plastic to flasks containing boiled and therefore dead bacterial culture.

Six weeks later, he weighed the strips of plastic. The control strips were the same. But the ones that had been in the live bacterial culture weighed an average of 17 per cent less.

That wasn't good enough for Burd. To identify the bacteria in his culture, he let them grow on agar plates and found he had four types of microbes. He tested those on more plastic strips and found only the second was capable of significant plastic degradation.

Next, Burd tried mixing his most effective strain with the others. He found strains one and two together produced a 32 per cent weight loss in his plastic strips. His theory is strain one helps strain two reproduce.

Tests to identify the strains found strain two was Sphingomonas bacteria and the helper was Pseudomonas.

A researcher in Ireland has found Pseudomonas is capable of degrading polystyrene, but as far as Burd and his teacher Mark Menhennet know -- and they've looked -- Burd's research on polyethelene plastic bags is a first.

Next, Burd tested his strains' effectiveness at different temperatures, concentrations and with the addition of sodium acetate as a ready source of carbon to help bacteria grow.

At 37 degrees and optimal bacterial concentration, with a bit of sodium acetate thrown in, Burd achieved 43 per cent degradation within six weeks.

The plastic he fished out then was visibly clearer and more brittle, and Burd guesses after six more weeks, it would be gone. He hasn't tried that yet.

To see if his process would work on a larger scale, he tried it with five or six whole bags in a bucket with the bacterial culture. That worked too.

Industrial application should be easy, said Burd. "All you need is a fermenter . . . your growth medium, your microbes and your plastic bags."

The inputs are cheap, maintaining the required temperature takes little energy because microbes produce heat as they work, and the only outputs are water and tiny levels of carbon dioxide -- each microbe produces only 0.01 per cent of its own infinitesimal weight in carbon dioxide, said Burd.

"This is a huge, huge step forward . . . We're using nature to solve a man-made problem."

Burd would like to take his project further and see it be used. He plans to study science at university, but in the meantime he's busy with things such as student council, sports and music.

"Dan is definitely a talented student all around and is poised to be a leading scientist in our community," said Menhennet, who led the school's science fair team but says he only helped Burd with paperwork.

Other local students also did well at the national science fair.

Devin Howard of St. John's Kilmarnock School won a gold medal in life science and several scholarships.

Mackenzie Carter of St. John's Kilmarnock won bronze medals in the automotive and engineering categories.

Engineers Without Borders awarded Jeff Graansma of Forest Heights Collegiate a free trip to their national conference in January.

Zach Elgood of Courtland Avenue Public School got honourable mention in earth and environmental science.

hxxp://news.therecord.com/article/354201

[albionmoonlight]

Every other scientist in the world who kept getting grants to research this stuff is pissed that this kid figured it out.

"Hey, kid. That's not how the game is played. We get paid whether or not we solve the problem. Now that you went and solved this, we have to think of something else on which to 'work.'"

Personally, I love things like the X-prize. Pay for results, not for good grant writing skills.

[Anthony]

just wait till he finds the cure for AIDS. then the other scientists will really shit their Huggies.

[MikeVic]

This is cool.

[Mustang]

I have a better solution. Ban plastic bags and bring your own. Just because I buy a pack of gum does not mean I need it to be bagged and, at Wal-mart.. 2 packs of gum = 2 bags.

Scientists are generally too busy right now too busy researching global warming and looking for new drugs to extend the lives of people without actually curing anything.

[SFL Cat]

sounds like a good plot for a sci-fi/horror movie. The microbes mutate and start eating PEOPLE!!!!

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by Mustang

I have a better solution. Ban plastic bags and bring your own. Just because I buy a pack of gum does not mean I need it to be bagged and, at Wal-mart.. 2 packs of gum = 2 bags.

Scientists are generally too busy right now too busy researching global warming and looking for new drugs to extend the lives of people without actually curing anything.

Yeah, I kinda agree with the ban though too. It seems to be a topic of discussion lately here in the city.

[duckman]

Bring back paper!

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Mustang

I have a better solution. Ban plastic bags and bring your own. Just because I buy a pack of gum does not mean I need it to be bagged and, at Wal-mart.. 2 packs of gum = 2 bags.

Scientists are generally too busy right now too busy researching global warming and looking for new drugs to extend the lives of people without actually curing anything.

We use http://www.reusablebags.com/store/ac...-1500-p-1.html

[Fidatelo]

I need those plastic bags to pick up my dog's poop on walks. No ban please.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Screw that ban notion.

If your life is so uncluttered & carefree that you actually have time to keep track of cloth/reusable bags & have them with you at all times then knock yourself out.

The rest of us however really appreciate the convenience (not to mention the savings on small trashbags) and hope you'll just STFU with your nonsense.

And that doesn't even begin to mention the number of bags required for a standard grocery run. Even if the reusables are twice the size of the standard plastics, you're talking about a half dozen bags or more reusables per trip (since 12 to 18 plastics bags isn't out of the ordinary, and we rarely even cook). Compound theoretically larger bags being less manageable for older shoppers or anyone with weight limits on their lifting, etc. The list of reasons this is a crap idea only fit for Birkenstock wearing nouveau hippies just goes on & on & on.

[Raiders Army]

Where are the American scientists?

[Telle]

Around us grocery stores and Walmart sell reusable bags for $1. Not that I ever remember to bring them with me when I go to the store.

[albionmoonlight]

It would be hard (impossible?) to implement, but I like the idea of shifting the cost of trash disposal away from property owners and to the product buying public. Get rid of property taxes for trash/landfills/etc. Add a surcharge for a product based on how much waste it is expected to produce (this is the part that would be hard to figure out, IMO). Use that surcharge to pay for trash disposal/storage.

That would provide an incentive, that does not currently exist, for consumers/manufacturers to minimize waste. And, for people like Jon who like the convenience of, say, plastic bags, he can pay for the impact that decision has. For people who don't want to pay, they can take on the inconvenience of bringining reusable sacks to the store.

That way the government isn't forcing anyone to do anything (always something to shoot for). But people aren't getting a free ride either. They are making a rational economic decision about cost vs convenience--something we all do every day in a variety of contexts.

(This, of course, does not just apply to plastic bags. Things like disposable cameras are another good example. Sometimes, it will be worth the cost to have something portable and disposable to bring to the beach. Sometimes it won't. But lets at least put the cost on the person with the power to choose to buy it and not on the people who happen to own property next door to the person with the power to choose.)

[Telle]

Actually, I know somebody who lived in a town who did that. Each household got one garbage can per week and anything beyond that you had to buy stickers to put on them or else they wouldn't be picked up. You could recycle as much as you wanted, so there was incentive to buy recyclable products and reduce waste in general.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Screw that ban notion.

If your life is so uncluttered & carefree that you actually have time to keep track of cloth/reusable bags & have them with you at all times then knock yourself out.

The rest of us however really appreciate the convenience (not to mention the savings on small trashbags) and hope you'll just STFU with your nonsense.

And that doesn't even begin to mention the number of bags required for a standard grocery run. Even if the reusables are twice the size of the standard plastics, you're talking about a half dozen bags or more reusables per trip (since 12 to 18 plastics bags isn't out of the ordinary, and we rarely even cook). Compound theoretically larger bags being less manageable for older shoppers or anyone with weight limits on their lifting, etc. The list of reasons this is a crap idea only fit for Birkenstock wearing nouveau hippies just goes on & on & on.

I agree on a ban being ridiculous. However, the reusable bags I posted fold up to about half the size of a wallet. For most of you, keeping half a dozen of those in your glove compartment would not be tough. For me, I keep one in my coat pocket at all times and my wife keeps 2 in her purse (since we often walk to the grocery store). The idea that it's hard to keep track of them is ludicrous -- your car has plenty of trunk space and other storage areas and you always have your car when you go to the grocery store.

I also agree that using grocery bags as small trash bags is ideal. Our trash can exclusively uses grocery bags -- however, when we were not using reusable bags we had about 6x the grocery bags we needed to sustain our trash production.

The bags we use do fit about twice the groceries of a standard grocery bag -- they also support far more weight. I can concede the argument regarding elderly/weak individuals. It's definitely not a solution for everyone, but I think many people are simply too lazy or ambivalent to stop using disposable grocery bags.

[rkmsuf]

When you think about it the concept of using disposable plasic bags for the same activity over and over again is quite ludicrous.

But I guess so are a lot of things like the amount of paper or food that is wasted everyday.

It's amazing how the humans run things sometimes.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

The idea that it's hard to keep track of them is ludicrous -- your car has plenty of trunk space and other storage areas and you always have your car when you go to the grocery store.

And the bag comes in when the groceries do. It's a challenge to remember to take the keys when I go back to the car every day ... taking those cloth bags back to the car after the groceries are put away? Fugeddabout it.
And truthfully, the same applies to the majority of people I know.

And do you always have the same person/same car on the trip to the store? Not here. So now we can double the hassle, oh joy & rapture.

And how's that coat pocket thing work for you in the summer?

Like I said, if it works for you, have at it. But for the majority of people it's not remotely practical or desirable.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

And the bag comes in when the groceries do. It's a challenge to remember to take the keys when I go back to the car every day ... taking those cloth bags back to the car after the groceries are put away? Fugeddabout it.
And truthfully, the same applies to the majority of people I know.

And do you always have the same person/same car on the trip to the store? Not here. So now we can double the hassle, oh joy & rapture.

And how's that coat pocket thing work for you in the summer?

Like I said, if it works for you, have at it. But for the majority of people it's not remotely practical or desirable.

Valid points, all.

We only have one car, so I don't generally think about the multiple car problem.

This winter was our first time using the reusable bags and we're just getting to the no coat season, so that will definitely be a problem.

I think taking the bags with you when you leave for the grocery store (perhaps keeping them with the grocery list) is a minor nuisance for the benefits it brings. But that's just my opinion. I doubt (but I could be wrong) you really care the minor impact that your bags are making on the environment.

We have even taken to reusing the produce bags.

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

It would be hard (impossible?) to implement, but I like the idea of shifting the cost of trash disposal away from property owners and to the product buying public. Get rid of property taxes for trash/landfills/etc. Add a surcharge for a product based on how much waste it is expected to produce (this is the part that would be hard to figure out, IMO). Use that surcharge to pay for trash disposal/storage.

That would provide an incentive, that does not currently exist, for consumers/manufacturers to minimize waste. And, for people like Jon who like the convenience of, say, plastic bags, he can pay for the impact that decision has. For people who don't want to pay, they can take on the inconvenience of bringining reusable sacks to the store.

That way the government isn't forcing anyone to do anything (always something to shoot for). But people aren't getting a free ride either. They are making a rational economic decision about cost vs convenience--something we all do every day in a variety of contexts.

(This, of course, does not just apply to plastic bags. Things like disposable cameras are another good example. Sometimes, it will be worth the cost to have something portable and disposable to bring to the beach. Sometimes it won't. But lets at least put the cost on the person with the power to choose to buy it and not on the people who happen to own property next door to the person with the power to choose.)

I like this idea.

[Flasch186]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Screw that ban notion.

If your life is so uncluttered & carefree that you actually have time to ____________________ & have _______________ with you at all times then knock yourself out.

The rest of us however really appreciate the convenience (not to mention the savings on ____________________) and hope you'll just STFU with your nonsense.

And that doesn't even begin to mention the number of __________ required for a standard ____________. Even if the ____________ are twice the size of the standard __________, you're talking about a half dozen ________ or more ___________ . Compound theoretically __________ being less manageable for older [people] or anyone with weight limits on their lifting, etc. The list of reasons this is a crap idea only fit for Birkenstock wearing nouveau hippies just goes on & on & on.

Generally, JimGA could use the above for anything that is evolutionary but an inconvenience, or somewhat of a control on excess that is mandated. I still like ya but your personal responsibility stuff sometimes is bad.

[rkmsuf]

I think it's funny how you can manage to put oh say 12 plastic bags in a trash can but can't fathom putthing 3 cloth bags back in your car.

Unless of course you just let the plastic bags fall where they may and work around them.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

Unless of course you just let the plastic bags fall where they may and work around them.

Both trash compactor & storage container for stray bags - both less than 8 feet from where the groceries are unloaded.

Car - downstairs, through the basement, out the door to the garage and then to the car

Current system has strong top of mind, they're in the hand & their destination is within sight & reach. Car out of sight, rarely straight back to the car after dealing with putting away groceries.

Seems pretty simple really.

[rkmsuf]

just admit you don't care. has nothing to do with the mechanics or difficulty of the activity.

presumably the things you care about get to where they need to be

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

I doubt (but I could be wrong) you really care the minor impact that your bags are making on the environment.

Actually I don't know if it would be possible for you to overstate how little a flying fuck I give about that.

But by way of comparison, it's exponentially below my concern about obscure ordinances in Houma, LA, women's semi-pro indoor lacrosse, and compiling a comprehensive list of uses for the number 2/3rds.

[rkmsuf]

I have more respect for saying you don't care than rationalizing why you don't make an effort to.

For example, the fact you don't care what I think.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

presumably the things you care about get to where they need to be

That sir would be too presumptuous of you

I barely manage to get "where I need to be", much less all the stuff that needs to be somewhere.

I have more respect for saying you don't care than rationalizing why you don't make an effort to.

But that gives no credit for the fact that the cost/benefit analysis still takes place & still produces a result. The fact that the benefit is measured in fractional decimal does not affect the relatively high aggravation cost. It produces a harshly imbalanced result, but the cost remains just as real.

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

just admit you don't care. has nothing to do with the mechanics or difficulty of the activity.

presumably the things you care about get to where they need to be

I think this is a given with any activity people choose not to do. If the amount of inconvenience is greater than the reward for doing it (internal reward or external), people just aren't going to care. If you keep making it easier/more convenient, eventually you will reach the tipping point and people will care. Throwing out a blanket "I don't care" just ignores the fact that a tipping point is there which means people won't see what they can do to reach the tipping point of more people.

[rkmsuf]

I wonder if cavemen had these concerns. Like they figured out fire and starting burning stuff. Were there a group of cavemen that were like "shit, if we keep burning all this wood there won't be any left someday."

I mean there must have been an offshoot group that went all sushi at one point to conserve wood.

[st.cronin]

Has the tipping point jumped the shark yet?

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Has the tipping point jumped the shark yet?

Has "tipping point" become an overused phrase?

[like a dog]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Screw that ban notion.

If your life is so uncluttered & carefree that you actually have time to keep track of cloth/reusable bags & have them with you at all times then knock yourself out.

The rest of us however really appreciate the convenience (not to mention the savings on small trashbags) and hope you'll just STFU with your nonsense.

And that doesn't even begin to mention the number of bags required for a standard grocery run. Even if the reusables are twice the size of the standard plastics, you're talking about a half dozen bags or more reusables per trip (since 12 to 18 plastics bags isn't out of the ordinary, and we rarely even cook). Compound theoretically larger bags being less manageable for older shoppers or anyone with weight limits on their lifting, etc. The list of reasons this is a crap idea only fit for Birkenstock wearing nouveau hippies just goes on & on & on.

You sir, are wrong and an obnoxious asshole about it to boot: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/wo...agewanted=1&hp

[Flasch186]

naw, he's just Jon....he'll grow on ya. Like a microbe.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by like a dog

You sir, are wrong and an obnoxious asshole about it to boot

And you're either a troll or a chickenshit regular hiding behind a duplicate account, which would be at least boxable if not bannable.

Two posts since 2006, and you just randomly get inspired by this meaningless thread? Uh huh ... right. I smell a doppleganger.

[like a dog]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

And you're either a troll or a chickenshit regular hiding behind a duplicate account, which would be at least boxable if not bannable.

Two posts since 2006, and you just randomly get inspired by this meaningless thread? Uh huh ... right. I smell a doppleganger.

I don't post much but I read this board now and then. Sometimes you pop up in threads that interest me and I'm always left disgusted.

When I think about what is wrong with America I don't think about corrupt politicians or urban ghettos or even backward societal norms. I think about people who constantly complain about a lack of time but somehow have over 15,000 posts on a message board about a video game. I think about people who, despite their devotion to their aforementioned cyber community, are opposed to having real life friends. I think about people who go on prolonged passive aggressive rants against anything that is discordant with their own narrow world view without the slightest concern for silly things like facts. You are an angry, illogical absurdity. And the fact that people like you exist and seem to be becoming more and more mainstream in this country - angry, cloistered, hateful people like you - makes me apprehensive about the future of this nation.

Taken in isolation, you are a nothing, content to while away your time in angry middle class obscurity. It is numbers that give your kind their terrifying strength.

[duckman]

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by like a dog

I think about people who, despite their devotion to their aforementioned cyber community, are opposed to having real life friends.

Actually, I don't like people very much - internet, in person, or otherwise. Please don't confuse my presence here for being significantly more fond of people online than I am in person. The Rule of the 90 applies to both venues.

As for my post count, being awake an average of 18-20 hours most days & within arms length of the keyboard for the great majority of those hours means there's room for diversion amidst the chaos. Boards like this are perfect for that sort of thing, quick hitters between phone calls, emails, and spreadsheet

And as for the rest of your random babble, it really isn't the nation's future that should concern you most. What I believe you really ought to worry about most is ever making the mistake of spewing your touchy feeley talking points to someone in close physical proximity instead of from behind the relative safety of your keyboard.

[Fidatelo]

Oh cool veiled threats of violence over the internet. Now "like a dog" just needs to find a way to work Hitler into his next comeback.

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by Mustang

I have a better solution. Ban plastic bags and bring your own.

Why ban plastic bags? They're (now) bio-degradeable.

[Mustang]

Chuck Norris doesn't use plastic bags. He just roundhouse kicks everything from the store to his house.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

Oh cool veiled threats of violence over the internet. Now "like a dog" just needs to find a way to work Hitler into his next comeback.

Nothing "veiled" about it, nor particularly threatening really. I mean, it isn't like he's sent me his street address.

Simply an honest observation that if he said aloud & in person the same thing he typed, there's a good chance it would be said to someone that would knock him on his ass. Doesn't have to be me, could be anybody he considers similar (since he talks about how many there are), in a bar or a supermarket checkout line or at a school PTA meeting.

As much as anything the point was about the absurdity of his oh-so-lofty sounding concerns when the stark reality is that there are far greater & more realistic worries he should have.

Can you honestly disagree with that assessment? You don't have to like it (nor me), you can even nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize if you want. But can you really say with a straight face that what I describe isn't a pretty good possibility?

[Flasch186]

I once had a GM in the USFL, after I kicked him out, threaten to come to my home and shoot me....cuz Im Jewish. It had nothing to do with him being a psychotic asshole with the mentality of a 11 year old. BTW that was not Jon.

[like a dog]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Actually, I don't like people very much - internet, in person, or otherwise. Please don't confuse my presence here for being significantly more fond of people online than I am in person. The Rule of the 90 applies to both venues.

As for my post count, being awake an average of 18-20 hours most days & within arms length of the keyboard for the great majority of those hours means there's room for diversion amidst the chaos. Boards like this are perfect for that sort of thing, quick hitters between phone calls, emails, and spreadsheet

And as for the rest of your random babble, it really isn't the nation's future that should concern you most. What I believe you really ought to worry about most is ever making the mistake of spewing your touchy feeley talking points to someone in close physical proximity instead of from behind the relative safety of your keyboard.

If you don't like people, then why do you feel the urge to post your opinion to a group of complete strangers 15,000 times? I mean, if you really dislike inter-personal interaction as much as you claim wouldn't the obvious conclusion be that you avoid it if at all possible? Instead, you choose to frequently and consistently interact with an online community. You are fundamentally ridiculous.

As for your pathetic threats of violence all I have to say is: thank you for making my point for me.

[duckman]

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

I once had a GM in the USFL, after I kicked him out, threaten to come to my home and shoot me....cuz Im Jewish. It had nothing to do with him being a psychotic asshole with the mentality of a 11 year old. BTW that was not Jon.

But now that you bring it up .... you're JEWISH?!?!?
Why I ought to ...

(There's a handful of people here I think I could actually comfortably go down that road with, Flasch is one of them. And he'd probably be disappointed if I didn't.)

Lemme get this straight though ... did he want to shoot you because you're Jewish? Or because you kicked him out of the league? Or because you're Jewish and you kicked him out of the league? I mean, would he have handled being kicked out of the league better if you were Methodist?

[duckman]

[lordscarlet]

I think taxing the usage of plastic bags is an excellent solution.

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

I once had a GM in the USFL, after I kicked him out, threaten to come to my home and shoot me....cuz Im Jewish.

I had the same issue in a D&D game. I kicked a character out of our party and he threatened me because I was Druish...

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Nothing "veiled" about it, nor particularly threatening really. I mean, it isn't like he's sent me his street address.

Simply an honest observation that if he said aloud & in person the same thing he typed, there's a good chance it would be said to someone that would knock him on his ass. Doesn't have to be me, could be anybody he considers similar (since he talks about how many there are), in a bar or a supermarket checkout line or at a school PTA meeting.

As much as anything the point was about the absurdity of his oh-so-lofty sounding concerns when the stark reality is that there are far greater & more realistic worries he should have.

Can you honestly disagree with that assessment? You don't have to like it (nor me), you can even nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize if you want. But can you really say with a straight face that what I describe isn't a pretty good possibility?

Whatever dude, neither of you would say any of this shit face to face, because the reality is you would both surmise real quick that you aren't very compatible and you'd each go on your way, never to reach this point of the discussion.

Still doesn't make your "say that to someone like me's face and you'll get punched out" line any less cheesy. You are in a typical interweb catfight, as duckman has so hilariously illustrated. Enjoy.

[Logan]

I take solace in the fact that I'm only about 40% the loser that Jon is .