ROME, Jan. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Italian researchers said on Monday that they had found a way of converting tomato waste into non-polluting plastic bags.

    Researchers at the biomolecular chemical division of the Italian National Research Council (CNR) in southern city Pozzuoli near Naples are working on the project, which could have far-reaching effects.

    Researcher Barbara Nicolaus, who came up with the idea, said that she and her team had discovered how to make biodegradable plastic bags using the polysaccharides found in tomatoes.

    She explained that during tomato processing, 40 percent of the raw material ends up as waste in the form of skin and seeds.

    By extracting and purifying the polysaccharide content in this waste, an exciting range of environmentally friendly products could be obtained - including bags and plastic wrapping, she said.

    "Tomato waste can become an important economic resource," Nicolaus said, noting that Italy was one of Europe's top tomato growers, with annual production of up to 6.1 million tonnes.

    She stressed that the discovery would reduce waste disposal andcosts and eliminate the environmental problems associated with plastic carriers.

    Nicolaus observed that leftover tomato products were already used successfully in resin and artificial plasma products and in the production of certain vaccines. Enditem