Diversity, abundance and distribution characteristics of potential polyethylene and polypropylene microplastic degradation bacterial communities in the urban river

•Potential PE/PP degrading bacterial community was enriched via an 1150-day culture.•Core and resuscitated PE/PP degrading bacteria were firstly screened from rivers.•Diversity of PE/PP degrading bacteria was higher than that of indicatory bacteria.•Potential PE/PP degrading bacterial community widely distributes in natural rivers.•Eutrophic sediments of rivers have great microplastic degradation potential.