The 300 million tons of plastic that are produced annually worldwide will take centuries to break down.
What's more, they really just shatter into tiny, microscopic bits that will likely never really disappear.
But now, Business Insider reports a new study describes a 'super-enzyme' can recycle a common type of plastic in just days.
Researchers from Colorado and the UK engineered the enzyme using proteins derived from plastic-eating bacteria.
Other researchers are looking into the use of magnetic 'nano-coils' to break down plastics.
Just half the width of a human hair, they convert plastic into carbon dioxide and water.