Production and applications of crude polyhydroxyalkanoate-containing bioplastic from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste

A considerable economic and environmental need exists for the further development of degradable plastic polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which are produced by bacteria. However, the production cost of this bioplastic, manufactured using conventional technologies, is several times higher than that of petrochemical-based plastics. This is a major obstacle for the industrial production of PHA bioplastic for non-medical use. The aim of this review is to evaluate suitable methods for the significant reduction in bioplastic production costs. The study findings are as follows: (1) The organic fraction of municipal solid waste can be used as a raw material through acidogenic fermentation; (2) non-aseptic cultivation using mixed bacterial culture can significantly reduce the production cost; (3) biotechnology of bacterial cultivation should ensure selection of PHA-accumulating strains; (4) applications of PHA-containing material in both construction industry and agriculture do not require expensive extraction of PHAs from bacterial biomass. The implementation of the above findings in the current manufacturing process of PHA-containing bioplastic would significantly reduce production costs, thereby rendering PHA-containing bioplastic an economically viable and environmentally friendly alternative to petrochemical-based plastics.