The possibilities are endless. Keep in mind that we can only recycle those that are white, clean, and unmarked. Unfortunately, we can't accept food containers for recycling since they've already been contaminated with oil and other food waste.
Styrofoam is technically the trademarked closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam XPS produced by the Dow Chemical Company and introduced to the US market in Now that you know how dangerous it can be for the environment, we hope that you'll consider replacing your Styrofoam-based products with more eco-friendly, reusable products instead.
This is because it uses fully recyclable and sustainable materials. The company's goal is to help divert millions of disposable products from the landfill every year, which is why we like using their products. Another good thing about Neon Kaktus is that unlike other brands, it actually delivers good on its promise to prevent leaks and spills with its coffee cup as many reviewers can attest , because really, who wants coffee all over their shirt?
Another reusable coffee cup that we like is the Panda Cup Eco Friendly Reusable Coffee Cup because of how much it looks like your typical Starbucks cup If you eat a lot of take-out, then you should use these stainless steel Food Storage Containers from JaceBox. They're airtight and leak-proof so you won't have to worry about your favorite food spilling on the pavement. This isn't something we can say about Styrofoam take-out containers, to be honest.
Best of all, the company promises that these containers are virtually indestructible. If you travel a lot and would prefer something that's less bulky, these collapsible Silicone Food Storage Containers from Collapse-it would make for a great replacement to single-use food containers. The company claims that, since they're made primarily of inert silicone and oxygen, they're better for both your health and the environment.
Yes, you can put Styrofoam in the recycling bin in some areas. However, there are many local governments who do not accept it in their curbside recycling programs. You can recycle Styrofoam at home if there is a curbside recycling program in your area that allows you to put it in the recycling bin. You may also donate it to delivery persons that come to your door since they might be able to repurpose it as packing peanuts.
The best option is to reduce your use of styrofoam. Try to remember your reusable container when you order takeout from a restaurant, or choose restaurants that have made the switch to cardboard takeout containers. When shipping merchandise, the best solution is to seek sustainable packaging alternatives. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer , polystyrene is a human carcinogen, making it a problematic form of environmental pollution.
Styrofoam is often coated in flame-retardant chemicals, which can leach out into our drinking water, especially when the styrofoam is exposed to heat or sunlight. The chemicals and toxins released by polystyrene materials can also cause harm to marine life once they make their way into the ocean.
Contaminants that find their way into the water where fish and marine life live are consumed by humans as seafood. By choosing polystyrene products for packaging, the shipping industry contributes to the global waste crisis. The only way to reduce the damage that has already been done is to make drastic changes to the materials that are used within the industry. Unsure What Is Vermiculite? Check Out Our Guide! Options for takeout containers and cups are PLA-lined paper, aluminum and poly-coated paper.
The small pieces of Styrofoam TM would not be possible to clean up. Styrofoam TM is already a common problem on beaches and in the ocean. Events are the only viable option for the City to recycle Styrofoam TM.
However, there are many limitations on hosting events, so we can't offer them all the time. It is very expensive to run Styrofoam TM recycling events.
We pay a vendor to staff the events and transport and recycle the material. Costs have increased significantly over the years. It now costs six times what it did when we started to host these events.
There is only one vendor in the Seattle region that hosts recycling events for expanded polystyrene. Kirkland's busy events have exceeded their capacity to serve. We worked with them on several ways to expand capacity, but have reached a limit. Styrofoam TM recycling events require a large site so there's enough space for the line. The events have outgrown all available City facilities, and there are a limited number of large parking lots available to rent in Kirkland.
These events take a significant amount of staff time to coordinate and manage. They are the most time-consuming event we offer. Staff have a finite amount of time available, so there is a tradeoff between organizing these events and other programs that may provide greater environmental benefit.
Reducing how much Styrofoam TM is used is currently the best choice. If you buy meat on foam trays, you could suggest to your grocery store that they switch to compostable trays. Encourage your favorite restaurants to choose other styles of takeout containers. When you shop, consider choosing products that will not come packed in Styrofoam TM , or purchasing items locally instead of having them shipped to you.
Buying vintage and secondhand items reduces both packaging and overall environmental impact. In , Washington State passed a new law S. The policy bans the use of Styrofoam TM packaging in mid, and Styrofoam TM food serviceware like takeout containers and foam cups in mid Extended producer responsibility is a system that makes companies responsible for the waste that they make, including shipping and packaging.
A system like that could reduce how much Styrofoam TM people receive. It could also lead to more, better Styrofoam TM recycling options. Using less foam is the best choice. However, there are valid reasons foam is currently used in much packaging. Foam is light and rigid, so it protects products during shipping while adding little weight.
Lighter loads produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Keeping products from breaking means all the energy and materials used to make them don't go to waste. Environmentally, it may be a worthwhile tradeoff to pack items in foam even if it gets thrown away. One of them is polystyrene, which is often mistakenly referred to by the popular brand name, Styrofoam , that makes up so many of our to-go lightweight containers, coffee cups, egg cartons, packaging, and more.
As previously mentioned, Styrofoam is a popular brand name of polystyrene, which is a petroleum-based plastic composed of styrene monomers. Polystyrene products by the brand Styrofoam are typically only used for building insulation; the polystyrene products you are probably more familiar with, such as cups, food containers, and packing peanuts, are not made by the Styrofoam company, but are made from the same plastic foam material.
The amount of polystyrene that's disposed of on a regular basis is shocking. It contaminates recycling and causes harm to the recycling process.
And actually, adding these items to your bin can actually result in the entire bin being rejected from a recycling truck or facility.
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