Styrofoam is everywhere, from takeout orders and delivery boxes to packing supplies and cups.
If you notice a pile of Styrofoam in your home, you may wonder how to dispose of it instead of throwing it in the trash.
Many are aware of Styrofoam’s harmful effects on the environment. However, Styrofoam is difficult and expensive to recycle, making it much more challenging to get rid of than other recyclable materials.
Here’s what you need to know about Styrofoam, its environmental effects, and how to dispose of it responsibly.
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What is Styrofoam Made Of?
Styrofoam is a lightweight, firm foam typically capitalized because it is a proprietary name.
Styrofoam likely made up the little packing peanuts in any packages you’ve ever received.
Since Styrofoam is divisive, several places have stopped using it.
Products made of Styrofoam are deemed hazardous to the environment since they are not biodegradable.
Styrene, a petroleum byproduct, is used to create Styrofoam. The intricate chemical process known as polymerization transforms the styrene into a transparent molten polystyrene mass, which is also used to make disposable serving ware.
Can Styrofoam Be Disposed of Safely?
Yes, but it’s challenging. Styrofoam does not deteriorate or break down over time because it is virtually entirely constructed of petroleum compounds.
Although it may be recycled under intense pressure, the amount of Styrofoam discarded daily worldwide completely overwhelms these recycling facilities.
Burning Styrofoam at very high temperatures may destroy it; the only byproducts produced are a small amount of water and carbon.
However, if it is burned in a regular fire instead of a dedicated incinerator, it releases pollutants, including carbon monoxide and black carbon.
Why is Styrofoam Harmful to the Environment?
Do you know Styrofoam’s precise environmental impact? Most people are aware of its harmful effects.
The fact that Styrofoam is not biodegradable is not its only issue. It also hurts the environment in numerous other ways.
There are three significant consequences of Styrofoam.
It Stacks Up in Landfills
Around the world, 30 percent of landfills are filled with Styrofoam products. This figure should worry everyone because landfills are quickly filling up.
Every day, 1,369 tons of Styrofoam are buried in landfills in the United States.
Numerous towns and nations have outlawed using Styrofoam in commercial settings because of its detrimental consequences. These include Oregon, California, Washington, Manila, the Philippines, Canada, France, Portland, and Taiwan.
It’s Full of Toxic Pollutants
Styrene in Styrofoam contaminates the food and beverages offered in Styrofoam containers. The same container emits dangerous air pollutants that contaminate landfills and weaken the ozone layer when exposed to sunshine.
Large volumes of ozone are released into the atmosphere during the production of Styrofoam, posing health and environmental risks.
The annual use of billions of Styrofoam cups in convenience stores, dining establishments, and break rooms results in environmental pollution from landfills.
It’s Harmful to Animals
Styrofoam is one of the most dangerous wastes currently in use, severely affecting our planet’s natural balance. It harms animals, rummaging for food in landfills.
Usually, Styrofoam items easily shatter into little fragments that might suffocate animals.
How to Dispose of Styrofoam
Now that you know a bit more about Styrofoam and how it affects the environment, you will probably be curious about how you can dispose of it and which ways will allow you to get rid of the Styrofoam you’ve accumulated without contributing to the harmful impacts associated with this household plastic-based product.
Can You Throw Styrofoam in the Trash?
The quick answer is that you can throw away Styrofoam, but should you? Styrofoam is light—in fact, it contains 95% air—but it takes up a lot of room in landfills. Therefore, even while the answer is yes, it doesn’t follow that you should.
The National Toxicology Program has identified styrene as potentially carcinogenic. Styrene is used to make EPS (Expanded Polystyrene Foam). The styrene inside them might leach out if you throw them in the trash, harming our ecosystems.
So how should you get rid of Styrofoam if you shouldn’t throw it away and most curbside haulers won’t take it in the recycling bin?
Reuse Styrofoam
Believe it or not, some ways exist to reuse Styrofoam without harming the environment or yourself. Here are a few examples to get you started!
If you’ve ever considered acquiring any sizable potting pots, you know they are impossible to move once they are filled with soil. To fill in some of the space, shred some Styrofoam or use some packing peanuts. You’ll not only save money but also improve drainage.
Create a container using an old Styrofoam cooler. Look at how adorable that turned out! It was spray-painted with leftover paint, had drainage holes drilled at the bottom, was filled with dirt, and contained a few plants. It is very adorable! If I can only keep it going.
Check with any nearby pharmacies to see if they can reuse the foam coolers as another option.
Foam cups work well as seed starters for non-edible plants. Drill a few holes in the bottom of the container to allow for drainage, and start the seeds before transferring them to your garden.
We can also be used in various arts and crafts projects.
How Can You Recycle Styrofoam?
You need to locate the many locations where you may dispose of Styrofoam. Styrofoam collection bins are available in some grocery shops, such as Publix, where you may put things like cups, meat trays, and food takeout containers. Just make sure you get them ready correctly.
You can typically take packing peanuts to a postal facility like UPS or PakMail. To be sure, give a call in advance. If you don’t live near a Publix location, many other resources exist to find a nearby solution. Here are just a few:
- Polystyrene is listed in the database that Earth911 keeps for various items.
- The EPS Industry Alliance details where you can mail it to be recycled (at a cost). This page discusses the environmental effects of foam in great detail. However, remember that this corporation has business interests that may affect the reliability of the information.
- Polystyrene is covered in great detail on Foam Facts and where you can recycle it. This website contains a wealth of knowledge concerning foam’s effects on the environment and its health and safety, but remember that they have a commercial interest.
- Contact disposal and recyclable drop-off sites near your home. Many of these drop-off events are solutions for difficult-to-dispose items.
- Search for and contact local recycling facilities and enquire whether they accept Styrofoam products.
How is Styrofoam Recycled?
Styrofoam is recyclable; however, it is more expensive to recycle on a large scale than glass or cardboard since it is lightweight, bulky, hard to clean because of its porous nature, and frequently used in food packaging.
Because of this, most curbside recycling facilities don’t accept or cannot recycle EPS products. Fortunately, many research projects are trying to create new ways to degrade Styrofoam efficiently. These projects have even found bacteria that can break down this material 12% faster than the current methods (or lack thereof).
For now, recycling facilities must complete a multi-step recycling process that includes the following:
- Inspecting, separating, and cleaning the Styrofoam
- Grinding the Styrofoam into a “fluff”
- Using heat and friction to melt this “fluff” to remove all the air
- Apply pressure to extract specific components, turning them into plastic that can be used for many different things, including toys.
Final Thoughts on Styrofoam Disposal
In short, Styrofoam is a very stubborn material that takes so long to break down that it is considered biodegradable.
The only way to curb the overabundance of Styrofoam in already full landfills is to avoid products made with Styrofoam and consume fewer products requiring its packaging.
While you can toss it in the trash, there are more eco-friendly ways to dispose of environmentally friendly. Your best bet is to find a local collection facility or business that will take it off your hands—sometimes at a cost.
Finding a nearby one may be challenging because of its incredibly complicated recycling process. If so, get creative and find new ways to reuse it around your home. Just be sure it’s not used to grow anything you consume.
Check out our other article post on how to recycle various items.
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