This topic was rather fully explored in a 1971 book:
Mutant 59: The plastic eaters by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_Pedler and Gerry Davis (both affiliated with Dr. Who)
As a kid that book seemed captivating(scenes of disintegrating airplane, sewage exploding etc.), upon rereading it some years later the plotting and characters seem hackneyed.
As a kid that book seemed captivating(scenes of disintegrating airplane, sewage exploding etc.), upon rereading it some years later the plotting and characters seem hackneyed.