What does styrofoam made of

Agilyx has sold their crude oil to a refinery that has turned it into jet fuel that was then sold to the department of defense. Another company, Styro-Gro , has outfitted trucks with built-in Styrofoam compactors for convenient pick-up and then converts it into faux marble or quartz. Turns out, it all boils down to economics—volume, weight, and a functioning recycling process.

Foam is a problem child for many facilities since it can easily break up and contaminate other, more profitable recyclables. Anna Dengler, Vice President of Operations for corporate sustainability consulting firm Great Forest , says that when advising clients on whether or not to recycle Styrofoam, it comes down to volume and weight.

For a large-scale urban business this is a possibility, but many smaller companies are limited by availability of haulers. With these findings, the city was able to successfully implement a ban on expanded Styrofoam containers and packing peanuts, which will go into effect in Murphy salutes it—his work at Environment Michigan includes efforts to implement a statewide Styrofoam ban.

Moreover, researchers have found that people who recycle may in fact end up being more wasteful because throwing something in the recycling bin makes them feel that using more of that product is environmentally harmless.

Since single use food service containers are not going to cease to exist, what would replace Styrofoam? It could end up being another type of material that has a greater environmental footprint than Styrofoam, Zink says. Privacy Policy Contact Us You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the provided link on any marketing message. Compostable options seem promising, but a report by Clean Water Action states that the majority of compostable single use food service products end up in landfill anyway and that whether composted or landfilled, they do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It seems that mealworms or mushrooms show promise for the eco-friendly solutions to degrade plastic, but that technology is still in its infancy. According to the EPA , waste and waste management issues are improving.

In each American person produced an average of 4. And between and , recycling rates have increased from less than 10 percent to more then 34 percent, while landfilling dropped from 89 percent to below 53 percent. How a steam-powered automobile in snuffed out the life of the brilliant naturalist and astronomer Mary Ward. Skip to main content. Podcast Video About Subscribe.

By Clay Cansler July 31, Science History Institute. Clay Cansler is managing editor of Distillations. Polystyrene in Electronics Polystyrene is used for the housing and other parts for televisions, computers and all types of IT equipment, where the combination of form, function and aesthetics are essential.

Polystyrene in Foodservice Polystyrene foodservice packaging typically insulates better, keeps food fresher longer and costs less than alternatives. Polystyrene in Insulation Lightweight polystyrene foam provides excellent thermal insulation in numerous applications, such as building walls and roofing, refrigerators and freezers, and industrial cold storage facilities.

Polystyrene in Medical Due to its clarity and ease of sterilization, polystyrene is used for a wide range of medical applications, including tissue culture trays, test tubes, petri dishes, diagnostic components, housings for test kits and medical devices. Polystyrene in Packaging Polystyrene solid and foam is widely used to protect consumer products. Back to Top. Polystyrene Safety in Food Packaging FDA has for decades stated that polystyrene is safe for use in contact with food.

Polystyrene foodservice packaging can help reduce food-borne illness in homes, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, cafeterias and restaurants.

Polystyrene foodservice packaging is preferred by the foodservice industry because it works better than alternatives. Hot foods stay hot, cold foods stay cold, and fresh foods stay fresh. From organic salads to spicy chili, polystyrene packaging offers more convenience and dining enjoyment for people on the go.

Polystyrene foodservice packaging generally is more economical — wholesale costs can be up to five times less than paper-based or reusable counterparts reusable containers require extra equipment, labor, water, electricity, detergent, etc. Answering Questions What do public health organizations say about polystyrene foodservice packaging?

What do regulatory agencies say about the safety of polystyrene foodservice packaging? What do scientific experts say about the safety of polystyrene foodservice packaging? Where does styrene come from? How can people come into contact with styrene? And with more than years of expandable foam molding experience on our hands, we can help you with your recycling or molding machinery specifications. If you have any questions or need help finding the right solution, feel free to contact us.

Topics: styrofoam , recycle styrofoam , recycle eps , recycle foam. Privacy Notice Sales Terms. Extruded Polystyrene Foam vs. Styrofoam: What's the Difference?