The article discusses the challenges and opportunities in using biotechnological approaches to degrade plastic waste, highlighting the potential for both recycling and upcycling. It emphasizes the need to overcome intrinsic barriers such as high crystallinity, additives, and mixed compositions of plastics through enzyme engineering, strain discovery, and process optimization. The authors review advancements in biodegradation methods for common plastics like polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane (PUR), and polystyrene (PS). They also explore the potential of biodegradable plastics and the role of enzymes and microbes in their degradation. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach, including mechanical and chemical recycling, to address the plastic waste crisis and the need for global efforts and policy support to realize a circular plastics bioeconomy.The article discusses the challenges and opportunities in using biotechnological approaches to degrade plastic waste, highlighting the potential for both recycling and upcycling. It emphasizes the need to overcome intrinsic barriers such as high crystallinity, additives, and mixed compositions of plastics through enzyme engineering, strain discovery, and process optimization. The authors review advancements in biodegradation methods for common plastics like polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane (PUR), and polystyrene (PS). They also explore the potential of biodegradable plastics and the role of enzymes and microbes in their degradation. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach, including mechanical and chemical recycling, to address the plastic waste crisis and the need for global efforts and policy support to realize a circular plastics bioeconomy.