Facts About Landfill & Styrofoam
According to American Chemistry the landfill space available to U.S. waste management services is growing smaller as the volume of solid municipal waste grows with Styrofoam or polystyrene containers taking up 29 percent more space in landfills than paperboard packaging products.
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Polystyrene/Styrofoam
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The Polystyrene Packaging Council reports expandable polystyrene or Styrofoam was invented in 1952 by the BASF Corporation and is created from petroleum and natural gas by-products.
Landfill Space
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The environmental group the Earth Resource Foundation reports that Styrofoam products make up approximately 25 to 30 percent of space in landfills around the world. According to The Way To Go environmental group, Hong Kong landfills disposed of 135 tons of polystyrene waste every day in 2006.
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Biodegradable
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The Polystyrene Packaging Council describes Styrofoam or polystyrene containers as non-biodegradable in landfills. It is unknown how long it takes for polystyrene to biodegrade, but the Way To Go group reports that when it is finally released into the environment, dangerous chemicals can eventually end up in groundwater.
Animals
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According to the Earth Resource Foundation animals that scavenge food from landfills can be harmed by Styrofoam products that break up into small pieces, clogging digestive systems and causing choking.
Uses
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Styrofoam is commonly used in food packaging. The product has good insulation, keeping food warmer and fresher for longer than paper-based products. The Way To Go group reports that over 100 cities around the world have banned the use of polystyrene products because of the negative effects they have on the environment.
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