Abstract: Several environmental researchers have widely documented microorganisms’ role in restoring the environment’s natural state. This study investigated the isolation and screening for the degradative potentials of beneficial microbes on different solid waste substrates generated at Ihiala, Anambra State, Nigeria. Soil and root soybean samples were collected at a garden located at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli Campus. Ripe queen pineapple (Ananas comosus) specimens were bought from Nkwo Ogbe Market, Ihiala, Anambra State. The samples were screened for beneficial microorganisms using a composed medium for bacteria and yeast extract agar for yeasts. The ability of the microbial isolates to degrade complex environmental wastes was investigated using starch, fat, protein, lignin, and cellulose-containing media, which also enabled clear zones and enzymatic indexes to be measured using Congo red stain. The results revealed that 13 microorganisms were isolated from the cultured substrates, and 3 out of the 13 isolates exhibited high degradative potential, as seen in the value of the enzymatic index. The ability of the microbial isolates to degrade starch, lipid, protein, lignin, and cellulose in the composed media showed that the isolates synthesized amylase, lipase, proteinase, ligninase, and cellulase, respectively. This study has revealed that degradative microorganisms are found in the environment, and the ability of the isolated microorganisms to break down complex organic compounds into simpler ones shows that they could break down the components of solid wastes, mainly carbohydrates, protein, cellulose, lignin, and lipids.

Keywords: Isolation, Screening, Degradation, Microbes, Solid Waste.