I don't feel like this is a permanent solution what so ever...but I mean it's worth some research, right? I agree with the final part, the plastic has to go somewhere, I'm pretty sure the bugs feeding on this plastic must be an adaptation not a natural occurrence as plastic is man made. Allowing them to feed on the plastic could have some sort of effect on the evolutionary development of that species.. and in turn effect others. I'm interested to see what side effects come from this feeding, as it could prove to be a very useful aid as well. (aid, not solution)

We have a saying in the UK 'putting the cart before the horse' that is plastic wrapping should be banned and card or paper used instead We can fly around in space so why not research this pollution worldwide problem ?

This needs real research as soon as possible.
What if the plastic eating bacteria consume the plastic but actually liberate the toxins and poisons otherwise trapped in the plastic and release it into the food chain. It could wipe out enormous numbers of the smaller animals in the sea, which the larger animals depend on for food. When there are no fish left what do humans eat?
Right now chemicals used in plastics could be building up to toxic levels in the fish we eat right now.

The only problem is that if the Americans research it, it will be for the purposes of making it a weapon.

bob cooper wrote in #2

We have a saying in the UK 'putting the cart before the horse' that is plastic wrapping should be banned and card or paper used instead We can fly around in space so why not research this pollution worldwide problem ?

Ban plastic?! I really hope that you're not in charge of anything important. Who are you to decide what material somebody can and can not use? You're the same type of person that would willingly take away the freedom of another under the guise of it "being for their own good".

Has the research been verified?

We don't need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. What's required is proper public education. I've known Phd students who don't apply their learning to their social lives and unbelievably will chuck beer cans, plastic wrappers and bottles into a ditch or leave them in a park after a picnic or party.

The assumption is always that someone else, the park workers for example, will clear up.

Mike B. wrote in #4

bob cooper wrote in #2

We have a saying in the UK 'putting the cart before the horse' that is plastic wrapping should be banned and card or paper used instead We can fly around in space so why not research this pollution worldwide problem ?

Ban plastic?! I really hope that you're not in charge of anything important. Who are you to decide what material somebody can and can not use? You're the same type of person that would willingly take away the freedom of another under the guise of it "being for their own good".

Yes, ban plastic as soon as possible, we have plenty of bio-degradable alternatives.

Freedom and banning plastic are completely unrelated, your argument is nothing short of absurd. Plastic is a 20th century material and it is about time we moved on.

need to include link to the scientific publication, and the research team's home page.

Some say educate the public...  we have a saying here in the UK "you cannot educate pork." 

So, why not turn to the source instead?  The MuckDonalds and CocaColas of this world...  Imposition of a mandatory deposit of £1, €2, $2 etc on each and every plastic or glass or metal container would surely educate the public not to casually toss beer cans and the like out of their cars or would provide an incentive for others to clean up after the litter louts, even to those louts to whom £1 etc is of no value.

There has been no evidence that the world is going anywhere, It's been around billions of years, it has survived far worse things. We and everything we make on the other hand, one day won't be here. Earth has a reset button, and she will use it. So there is no need to ban anything. Though I do agree that plastic is 20th centery material and it is time for us to move on, considering how plastic gets made in the first place.

Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret!

Things like this always pop up, but they always seem to fade away. Much like solar power, it won't be heavily invested in, and the public won't hear anything of it.

Just wait until these bugs make their way into the PVC piping of cities. Everything will begin to crumble away.

Nature always wins, we are not its master :)