How to Stop Styrofoam Use
It's no secret that Styrofoam is bad for the environment. It isn't biodegradable, can't be recycled and easily blows around and floats, making a major component of marine debris. Chemicals used in manufacturing Styrofoam negatively impact the ozone layer and leach into food and drink, which can harm human health. Many companies, including major fast-food chains, have replaced Styrofoam with earth-friendly packaging such as paper and cardboard, but Styrofoam use is still common. If you would like to decrease further the use of Styrofoam, there are a few things you can do.
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Instructions
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Bring your own coffee mug or reusable container to restaurants and cafes that use Styrofoam to serve food. This will save the business money in addition to reducing food-packaging waste.
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Use and recommend alternatives to Styrofoam packaging. Several companies have developed biodegradable alternatives to Styrofoam which use materials such as sugar cane and cornstarch, with applications in mailing packages and serving food and drinks.
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Pressure companies to stop using styrofoam containers by sending the trash back to the company and encouraging others to do so. A "send it back" campaign was effective in persuading a fast-food chain to discontinue their use of Styrofoam packaging after it became clear that it was polluting the environment and customers were unhappy with it.
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- Photo Credit pink styrofoam business image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com
