Oyster mushrooms are proving to be nature’s answer to one of the world’s biggest littering problems… cigarette butts.
The environmental advantages of fungi continue to grow with Aussie researchers uncovering another purpose for the tasty side dish.
With 4.5 trillion butts tossed each year, it is no secret that cigarettes are major contributors to the global waste crisis.
Fungi researcher, Amanda Morgan, says that the key to the process is convincing the mushies that the cigarette butts are edible.
Convincing a mushroom to digest the butts is likened to “training a baby to eat,” says Ms Morgan, founder and head of research and development at Fungi Solutions.
The mushrooms are capable of breaking down microplastics within the butts, and in turn, creating reusable material, Ms Morgan explained.
“Mushrooms put out fine webs of mycelium and the roots spread through the cigarette butt.”
“It will branch like a web and, with time, you will see the dirty baths become white mycelium when it expands through the material and starts digesting the material,” says Morgan.
Fungi Solutions is based in Melbourne and specialises in the removal of waste from landfills, using fungi to break down the materials. The broken-down materials can then be recycled or composted.
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The organisation has received the support of the council, in an Australian first collaboration.
Wollongong City Council in NSW plans to partner with Fungi Solutions to collect cigarette butts and use the fungi to detoxify microplastics.
The initiative is setting out to gather cigarette butts and use them for the trial instead of sending them to landfills.
“Council has invested in a number of new cigarette butt bins at key locations around our community,” Wollongong City Council spokesperson Joanne Page said.
Environmental organisation No More Butts estimates that approximately 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are tossed worldwide each year.
wollongong City Council-How to train your oyster mushroom – no, really! https://t.co/uBUqrZfqt2
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Even if butts are disposed of properly, they still end up in landfills.
So, next time you chow down on some sautéed mushrooms, send some admiration their way.
