Styrofoam, which is a trademark name of polystyrene, is a type of plastic and often used as a material for packing.  You can find it in expanded foam, in packing peanuts, in various trays for food, and many different products.  The problem is that this material is made from petroleum, which makes it very flammable, and it contains benzene in it, which is a carcinogen.

The Environmental Problem

So why is Styrofoam a problem for the environment?  Well, this foam which is often used in the packaging of various appliances, but it takes a long time for it to be broken down.  This means that animals can end up ingesting the foam, which can cause them to starve to death, and often this foam sits in landfills for years.

Because of the nature of this Styrofoam, it is amazing that it is actually allowed to be used for food packaging, but it is.  Food often even comes in direct contact with food, in things like packaging for meat.  There are some cities in the United States that have actually done the right thing and banned the use of polystyrene when it comes in direct contact with food.  If you take a look at products and packaging, if they have polystyrene in them, you will see a recycling triangle of them and the number six will be inside of the logo triangle.

More than likely it will be some time before Styrofoam is no longer made.  While you can work to purchase products that done use it in any way, you also need to learn how you can deal with the polystyrene that ends up in your own hands instead of sending it off to a landfill somewhere.  Many recycling programs do not accept polystyrene for recycling and it is hard to store it since it is pretty bulky.  Polystyrene can be recycled, so you definitely need to tell others about working on recycling Styrofoam.

Should You Burn It?

There are some people that think burning their Styrofoam is the best choice for getting rid of it.  However, there is a problem with this option.  When you burn it, it releases a gas known as styrene gas.  This gas can affect your nervous system.  Often you can’t get the high temperatures needed to totally get rid of it and toxic chemicals end up being produced because of the low temperature you have when trying to burn at home.  So, this is not the best option for getting rid of Styrofoam.

Options for Recycling

While burning is not a good option, there are some things that you can do to keep Styrofoam from ending up in landfills anytime soon.  One great option is to use it to pack things.  Perhaps you are sending out packages and need some packing material to keep something from breaking.  Break down some Styrofoam and make your own packaging peanuts to reuse it.  Often craft shops have use for this Styrofoam, since they use it for art projects.  Check with Earth911.com as well.  They can let you know what companies in your area will take back polystyrene so you can get rid of it.