Researchers from Aarhus University and the Danish Technological Institute have taken a new approach in the search for enzymes capable of breaking down some of the most difficult types of plastic to recycle. They collected millions of bacteria from a landfill in Kenya, Randers Regnskov Tropical Zoo, the guts of larvae and a compost heap near Aarhus—and examined their enzymes. They found 12 that work.

We might as well jump straight to the conclusion: The best candidate came from the compost heap.

And the researchers are now busy improving the enzyme’s ability to break down polyurethane and nylon.