Dr. Sandra Tuszynska

The humble fungi could hold the key to eradicating much of the world’s waste as it has the ability to both replace and decompose plastics, a Queensland scientist says. Mycologist Dr Sandra Tuszynska hopes the material could one day replace plastics, bricks and even metals. She said the mycelium — the white, furry, web-like growth off a fungus — was a tough, water repellent and fire retardant material. …Dr Tuszynska said the vomiting or spitting out of enzymes occurred when the mycelium decomposed or digested wood or other matter. “Once moisture gets into the drop down wood, other organic matter, dead insects or animals, the fungi do their work by penetrating through the matter and decompose it by vomiting up enzymes onto the substance it’s decomposing.” Dr Tuszynska, who works as an environmental projects officer at Woodfordia, said international research had found that fungi could decompose plastics.