What you need to know
Is polystyrene a type of plastic?
Yes, polystyrene is a type of plastic.
It's great, you might think - a lot of plastic products can be recycled. Tons of it are collected and recycled every day. The main thing to remember is to wash it before removing it for recycling.
Is polystyrene and polystyrene foam the same thing?
To understand this question, we need to understand what polystyrene is. Polystyrene is a synthetic chemical compound made up of the styrene monomer. It is usually transparent, although it may have added color and may be solid or foamy.
The foam comes only in the form of foam and is usually colored in light blue. Therefore, if you have polystyrene foam that is light blue, it is likely to be polystyrene.
Another way to make a difference is to consider what it is used for. Polystyrene is usually used as packaging or disposable containers for food and beverages, while polystyrene is often used in construction and construction.
Why is polystyrene good for packaging?
One of the main reasons polystyrene is good for packaging is because it is very light, which means it does not add more weight to the item, but it is very strong when compressed and can absorb shock if the item is dropped or hit.
Polystyrene is also a cheap product, unlike other packaging materials such as cork, straw or lumber, which means it is a cost-effective choice for businesses.
What can I do with polystyrene packaging?
If possible, try to use old polystyrene packaging as cushioning in your own packages or when moving. Any way to reuse and recycle old polystyrene packaging is good for the environment and prevents it from reaching the landfill.
Is polystyrene biodegradable?
From a technical point of view, if it is heated enough in the sun, for example, the polystyrene will begin to decompose. However, most polystyrene ends up piled up in a landfill where it is not exposed to sunlight and can therefore take a long time to decompose. For this reason, polystyrene is not considered to be biodegradable.
How long does it take for polystyrene to decompose?
When polystyrene is sent to landfill, it can take up to 500 years for a single piece of it to decompose.
Is polystyrene toxic to humans?
In general, when used as packaging and to contain food and drink, polystyrene is not toxic to humans. However, research has suggested that when polystyrene is heated, it can cause decomposition and leakage of harmful chemicals. Therefore, it is not recommended to reheat food in polystyrene containers.
What are the disadvantages of polystyrene?
When considering the impact of polystyrene on the environment, we must recognize that polystyrene tends to be a disposable product, which can result in millions of tons of polystyrene going to landfill each year.
Because polystyrene is not biodegradable, it has a severe impact on our environment. The impact of polystyrene use should be carefully considered and alternatives should be sought where possible. It is important to reuse and recycle polystyrene as much as possible and to reduce its production and use in packaging and production.
Do you have polystyrene waste collected?
If you would like to know more about how we can work together to recycle your EPS waste,
talk to a member of our team today.