Available online www.jocpr.com Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2013, 5(8):122-127 Research Article ISSN : 0975-7384 CODEN(USA) : JCPRC5 122 Screening of polythene and plastic degrading microbes from Muthupet mangrove soil M. Kannahi* and P. Sudha PG and Research Department of Microbiology and A Division of Biotechnology, Sengamala Thayaar Educational Trust Women’s College, Sundarakkottai, Mannargudi, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu, South India _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT Polythene and plastic waste accumulating in the environment are posing an ever increasing ecological threat. Biodegradable plastics are environment friendly; they have an expanding range of potential application and are driven by the growing use of plastics in packaging. In this study, soil sample were collected from polythene and plastic dumped site waste in the area of Muthupet Mangrove. The physico-chemical parameters of the soil were studied. The isolated microbial strains were identified based on their cultural morphological and biochemical study. Degradation of polythene bag and plastic cup were analyzed 35, 45 and 55days of incubation in liquid culture method. Pot culture of Vigna radiata was performed. The morphological parameters such as Germinating ability, root length, shoot length and chlorophyll content were analyzed. Waste management was the important process to protect the environment from pollution. Polythene and plastic cup waste materials cause serious environment problems, so the waste materials removed by using the microorganism. This method was cheap and effective, so that it can be used widely for the treatment of polythene and plastic cup. Key words: Polythene, Plastic, S.aureus, P.aeruginosa, A.niger, Rhizopus sp and Streptomyces sp _____________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Biodegradation is defined as decomposition or destruction of contaminant molecules by the action of the enzymatic machinery of biological system. Biodegradation is the process by which organic substances are broken down by living organisms. The term is often used in notation to ecology waste management and environmental remediation. A term related to biodegradation is biomineralisation, in which organic matter is converted into minerals. Biosurfactant, an extracellular surfactant secreted by microorganisms, enhances the biodegradation process [1]. Microorganisms have a naturally occurring in microbial catabolic diversity to degrade, transform or accumulate a huge range of compounds including hydrocarbons (PAHs), pharmaceutical substances and metals. The durability, light weight and process ability of these polymers causes them to longer in the nature for centuries and end up in landfills and natural water resources creating a severe threat to the environment and its ecosystems [2]. Biodegradable polymers are designed to degrade upon disposal by the action of living organisms, biodegradable polymers generally decompose in various medium in our environment. The depolymerisation results due to various physical and biological forces. The physical forces such as temperature, moisture, pressure etc, deals with causing