Abstract: Polyhydroxyalkanoate （PHA） as a biodegradable plastic has been gradually developed into an alternative to traditional plastics due to its similar physicochemical properties to traditional plastics together with environmentally friendly characteristics. Upon reaching the end of their lives， some consideration should be given to reasonably dispose PHA wastes to alleviate environmental pressures. This review paper introduced the categories， properties and applications of PHA. The biodegradation of PHA in different environments or processes， functional microorganisms， and enzymes， as well as the mechanism and standards related to biodegradation were also summarized. This paper aimed to provide theoretical references for improving the biodegradability of PHA products and optimizing PHA waste management and disposal strategies.

Key words: polyhydroxyalkanoates, biodegradation, aerobic, anaerobic, biodegradation mechanism