At the beginning of November, researchers from the University of Ås come to Åsnes-Finnskog. They will find out whether the plastic toothbrush manufacturer Jordan dumped in the 1970s and 1980s can be food for bacteria and insects. – We want to use nature’s tools to solve the plastic challenge that we have in society today, says Professor Gustav Vaaje-Kolstad. He works at the faculty of chemistry, biotechnology and food science at NMBU. When he saw the news story about the toothbrushes on news, he found out that they could use this rubbish in their research project. New method for recycling plastic The research project at NMBU is funded by the Research Council of Norway. Partners are Bellona, Norner, Emballagesforeningen and Aclima. – There are few profitable methods that can be used to recycle much of the plastic we use, says Gustav Vaaje-Kolstad. RECYCLING: Professor at NMBU Gustav Vaaje-Kolstad will find natural ways to destroy and recycle plastic. Photo: Eivind Norum, NMBU He says it works well for PET plastic, from which plastic bottles are made. But not too hard plastic, which is often made of polyethylene. Which the toothbrushes, which are located in the forest in Åsnes, are made of. Therefore, part of that plastic is burned instead of recycled. In nature, there are a number of chemical substances that are similar to what plastic is made of. This means that some bacteria, fungi and insects can use plastic as food. In order to do that, the plastic must be broken down into its smallest components. It is done with special enzymes that are secreted by these organisms. SOLUTION: Hard plastic, which the toothbrushes in Åsnes are made of, has until now been difficult to break down. But now there may be a solution. Photo: Frode Meskau / news And it is these enzymes that the researchers will now be looking for on the toothbrushes and tons of other plastic that Jordan dumped in Finnskogen. – They can slowly but surely break down the plastic, says Vaaje-Kolstad. Once the researchers have identified the enzymes, they can create them in the laboratory so that they can be further investigated and developed for use in industrial processes for plastic recycling. An advantage is that the toothbrushes have been in the forest for a long time. The answer to whether this can provide a new way to break down plastic can take anything from a few months to several years. The advantage of using the plastic pile at Finnskogen in the research project is that it has been there for 40–50 years. GROW INTO THE PLASTIC: Roots and trees have grown into toothbrushes and other plastic that Jordan dumped in the forest in Åsnes. Photo: Frode Meskau / news – This means that the bacteria and fungi have had plenty of time to establish themselves there and start to gnaw a little on these toothbrushes, says Professor Gustav Vaaje-Kolstad. The hope is that industry can start using it to recycle plastic. They can then send the plastic to a factory where it is ground up and pumped into a large container. There it is mixed with the enzymes that can break down the plastic. What remains can be assembled into new plastic. – It is absolutely fantastic. That is what all of us who deal with this madness here hope for, says Andreas Brandvoll. He is the prime mover for the Plastic Pirates, who travel around Norway to pick up plastic rubbish so that it does not end up in the sea. He is happy that the University of Ås is getting involved in the dumping of plastic in Åsnes. HOPE FOR MORE RECYCLING: Primus motor in the Plastpiratene Andreas Brandvoll hopes the research contributes to more recycling of plastic. Photo: Privat Brandvoll was himself at the dumping site at Finnskogen at the weekend, where there are over 70 acres of five-metre-deep pits with toothbrushes and other plastics. – It’s the first time I’ve tried toothbrushes. There were mountains of toothbrushes, he says. After the case became known, the Plastic Pirates received inquiries from all over Norway that plastic was also dumped in the same way in the period 1970-1980s elsewhere in the country. He points out that only 10 percent of the plastic we use is recycled. But hope the research contributes to the percentage being higher.
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The toothbrushes that Jordan dumped in the forest in Åsnes can provide answers to a research project – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
