The disclosure relates to methods for degrading and/or removing pollutants comprising a phenol, aniline, a hydrocarbon, or a combination thereof, in a waste material. Methods include providing a viable corn plant expressing a fungus-derived recombinant manganese peroxidase in seeds of the corn plant, growing the corn plant, harvesting the seeds, and contacting one or more composition(s) comprising (1) at least a portion of the seeds, and (2) a peroxide or a peroxide source with the waste material comprising the pollutant to remove or degrade the pollutant.