Styrofoam | Photo: EarthTalk
Aug. 29. Dear EarthTalk: Styrofoam is terrible for the environment and hard to recycle but still prevalent across the U.S. What’s being done to phase it out? — Michael Brophy, Boston, MA
Plastic foam, better known under its brand name of Styrofoam, has been used for insulation, packaging and foodware (cups, takeout containers, etc.) for decades. Also known as expanded polystyrene, the foam is made from a carcinogenic chemical called styrene. The material remains prevalent today, especially in the food industry, as countless foodware products are still distributed globally.
The light weight and superior insulating ability of plastic foam makes it a convenient resource for the transportation of goods, but it is also a serious threat to many natural habitats. It can break apart and get picked up by the wind very easily, causing it to disperse rapidly across all kinds of landscapes. In 2022, the International Coastal Cleanup program picked up over 8.7 million plastic foam food containers globally, making it the seventh most common item collected that year.
It looks like food
Seals, seabirds and fish tend to mistake the foam for food and eat it, often poisoning them due to the toxic chemicals in the foam. Styrofoam also cannot be properly recycled, though many people recycle it by mistake. As a result, it contaminates recycling efforts, making it more expensive to salvage than to simply manufacture new. The toxic chemicals that are coated on many foams may even harm people, and especially children.
It is banned in some places
Many governments around the world have taken measures to mitigate the risks. At present, 15 countries, 12 U.S. states and dozens of U.S. cities have banned the sale or distribution of plastic foam in food service establishments. Many citizens have also led successful anti-Styrofoam campaigns by contacting elected officials and educating the public about the benefits of alternatives.
According to FuelOurDemocracy.com, Styrofoam is banned in Colorado, Maine, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Washington D.C. Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington have styrofoam bans that are not yet in effect.
Major U.S. efforts to support a transition away from Styrofoam have also been made by organizations such as the Department of Environmental Conservation and Environment America. These efforts include enforcement of bans and education to assist food providers in finding new, affordable alternatives. Some exceptions are allowed for the use of plastic foam with mutual aid organizations and nonprofits who need cheap materials, but these communities have otherwise proven that we can run communities without using Styrofoam.
Volunteer
To assist in efforts to ban plastic foam, start by researching the status of plastic foam laws in your city, state or local community. Effective ways to implement Styrofoam bans include promoting alternative food containers, and bringing your own reusable containers to restaurants for your leftovers. Also, visit the Ocean Conservancy’s website to find out if there are any volunteer Coastal Cleanups near you.
Contacts: Ocean Conservancy, https://oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/What-the-Foam_REPORT_0911-2023_TFS-Ocean-Conservancy.pdf; The Department of Environmental Conservation, https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/124479.html; Environment America, https://environmentamerica.org/media-center/environment-americas-new-campaign-wildlife-over-waste/.
EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.
Will these “protect the environment” special interest groups ever get their facts straight? There is so much misinformation here, but just look at their headline as an example. “Styrofoam is terrible for the environment and hard to recycle…”
Industry has been recycling expanded polystyrene foam (EPS aka Styrofoam) for decades. It’s not hard to recycle. In fact, our own county now operates four (4) full-service recycling centers (https://meckfoam.com/). Mecklenburg County and municipalities across the country are recycling EPS. It’s not hard to recycle.
We can agree, however, that EPS is not biodegradable and, left in a landfill, will be there for a very long time. That’s why my company pioneered an alternative insulated packaging material (www.kodiakotton.com) manufactured using post-industrial textile trim waste. It is reusable, biodegradable, and recyclable. Our product has replaced millions of EPS foam containers. And, BTW, our team brought the product to market without government subsidies. No “Green New Deal” required!
Environmental advocacy groups have an important message to communicate. Unfortunately, they undermine their own message when they sacrifice truth for the sake of their agenda.
Final word…businesses that want to deliver “green solutions” with funding from government subsidies will not survive once the subsidy dries up. Remember “Solyndra”? True solutions are both environmentally and economically sustainable.
Posted by Bob Menzel | August 31, 2024, 7:59 pmWe asked Assistant Town Manager Tyler Beardsley if we can include styrofoam coffee cups, food trays, etc in our recycling bins in Cornelius. His response: “No sir, styrofoam is not recyclable in the bins.” The actual headline was: “What’s being done to phase out Styrofoam?” The reader question was: “Styrofoam is terrible for the environment and hard to recycle but still prevalent across the U.S. What’s being done to phase it out?” …from Michael Brophy in Boston, MA
Posted by Newsroom | September 2, 2024, 11:02 am