Aug 10, 2008, Multiply, Perils of Ploystyrene

Eliminate the Use of Polystyrene

http://www.ejnet.org/plastics/polystyrene/nader.html

http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-styrofoam.html

Polystyrene is one of my ‘pet hates’, many places have already banned its use and I just wish other places would do the same. It is a major cause of marine pollutant, it is directly responsible for the death of thousands of birds and animals every year especially marine wildlife. It uses about 20% of all land fill space, it NEVER decomposes, it is damaging to the people who produce it and damaging to the people who use it. The chemical composite of it has been proved to be carcinogenic and have detrimental effect on the reproductive system, it is also linked with chromosomal disorders in the children of those working in the industry. Why it is not completely banned through out the world I just don’t know. It is truly evil stuff.

Please; just refuse it, don’t use it, don’t buy it, don’t sell it, don’t accept anything sold in it or wrapped in it and never, never, never think it doesn’t matter, IT DOES.

1.       Polystyrene has serious negative impacts on workers producing it. According to the Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education, styrene, a component of polystyrene, leaches into food from polystyrene foodware.

2.     Styrene has been found in 100 percent of human tissue samples and 100 percent of human nursing milk samples tested.

3.     There is evidence that styrene is a carcinogen and it has also been linked to reproductive problems.

4.     Styrene has also been linked to increased levels of chromosomal damage, abnormal pulmonary function and cancer in workers at polystyrene and styrene plants.

5.     Manufacturing polystyrene is also a major producer of pollution. In 1986, EPA ranked the 20 chemicals whose production generated the most hazardous wasted. Polystyrene was number five.

6.     Toxic chemicals leach out of these products into the food that they contain (especially when heated in a microwave). These chemicals threaten human health and reproductive systems.

7.     These products are made with petroleum, a non-sustainable and heavily polluting resource

8.     By volume, the amount of space used up in landfills by all plastics is between 25 and 30 percent.

I found lots of really horrible pictures of injured and mutilated animals, all victims of pollution. I didn’t think anyone would want to sit and look at them so instead I found some nice pictures, pictures of how things should be, and how we need to make sure things stay

Two videos on the perils of polystyrene.

Followed by the third video which is lovely, you need to see this one.

delete reply carldecs wrote on Aug 11, '08 Burn styropore boxes and watch them melt into a tiny globs. Then we can bury them in small holes on the ground.

delete reply paulishd wrote on Aug 11, '08, edited on Aug 11, '08 Re: styrofoam recycling: We may be in a luxurious position locally re: recycling styrofoam because we have a styrofoam manufacturing plant in the county, which takes back styrofoam. A mixed blessing at best, I would say! I wish styrofoam were banned too but styrofoam building insulation seems to be growing in popularity, not shrinking (as just one example). The last two building projects I was involved in used it. I get a piece or two of styrofoam per month, despite the wide knowledge of its ill effects. Sigh.

delete reply starfishred wrote on Aug 10, '08 over her it is banned especially inn the fast food industry that is good-

delete reply bennett1 wrote on Aug 10, '08 It is horrible stuff. I used to toss it out; I have taken to re-using it if I get it. Which I hardly ever do, but at school I would wash out my styro cup and re-use it which people thought was great fun. In Michigan McDonalds and other fast food chains serve burgers and drinks in cardboard, mostly. If you like, we can put a link in on Jungleblogs to the two sites above.

delete reply kathyinozarks wrote on Aug 10, '08 excellent-thank you-I will add a link to your page-

delete reply msowens1 wrote on Aug 10, '08 I too have become passionate about recycle, but much of what you presented is very informative, thanks.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Aug 10, '08 PS Vfleener..................nothing wrong with hugging trees. :)

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Aug 10, '08 thanks for all the comments, from what I have read SOME types of polystyrene can be recycled but most recycling facilities refuse to take it because it's so difficult to deal with. It is also very energy expensive to recycle and even if it is recycled that doesn't stop all the other problems associated with it. Most of it lays around and does not even begin to decompose for at least 500 years. When I did my blog on composting I listed all the things our local council accept for recycling and although they do take quite a lot they don't accept ALL plastics and they don't accept ANY Polystyrene. which is one of the reasons I wish they would ban the use of it in this area. But thanks for all the comments, i'm really pleased there are other people who feel the same.

delete reply veryfrank wrote on Aug 10, '08 I should introduce you to a friend in Tasmania. Along with Bennett, we are doing blogs and comments on her site concerning plastic based packaging and bags. Maybe there is an "It ain''t easy being green group," or we should start one.

delete reply paulishd wrote on Aug 10, '08 My recycling center told me that styrofoam can be recycled, so I'm taking mine there, along with plastics that don't fit most recycling programs. Even the Boy Scouts want 1 and 2 plastics but many items are 5 and 7, I find. I'm completely obsessive about keeping plastics out of the garbage. Cans, too, but they're easier than weird plastic thingies, at least in my neck of the woods.

delete reply vfleener wrote on Aug 10, '08 This has been known for years, they switched to cardboard at many fast food changes, but here teven the goverment uses it. Ofcourse the we have the tree huggers which I am, that says don't cut the trees down. With the amount of 'acceptable' levels of poisons and waste in our food we need to grow more our own. Peace and Love, Van

delete reply edtrain5 wrote on Aug 10, '08 Polystyrene sounds as nasty as asbestos. btw... don't they make a polystyrene that decomposes after a few years?? Peace 'n' HUGS

delete reply maclll wrote on Aug 10, '08 I couldn't agree with you more. On the plus side, Another product has been developed to replace polystyrene. It is actually made from corn and will hit the markets in the coming years. Someone out there does care.