Polystyrene is a type of plastic that has been around since the 1950s and was originally used as insulation in refrigerators. It’s also very lightweight which makes it easy for manufacturers to shape it into items like cups or packaging materials. One problem with this material is that it doesn’t break down easily when it is discarded into the environment. As a result, this type of plastic continues to accumulate in landfills and pollute our waterways and oceans. If we don’t do something about it soon, our environment will be full of polystyrene!
If you are not convinced, just take a look at the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that consists of millions of tons of plastic pollution in our oceans. This article aims to point out the harmful effects of polystyrene and how you can contribute to polystyrene recycling Sydney council aims to continue.
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The Truth About Polystyrene and Its Negative Effects on the Environment
Polystyrene has been used in many commercial and consumer products for decades. This is a type of plastic that is used to make disposable food containers and takeaway coffee cups. It’s also known as Styrofoam. This material has made an impact on our environment, posing a threat to the air we breathe and the water we drink. Although it is durable and lightweight, it poses one problem: it does not break down easily and people throw polystyrene products into landfills.
Reducing the Negative Impact of Polystyrene Through Recycling
Luckily, there are ways to recycle boxes near me that are made with polystyrene so we can stop contributing to this growing problem. Keep reading to know more about polystyrene recycling Sydney has today and how it helps save the environment!
Polystyrene recycling can help reduce the negative impact of polystyrene on our environment. The first step to begin recycling polystyrene is to find an appropriate location near you.
Some of these areas include:
- polystyrene disposal centres that accept Styrofoam for free or a small fee
- home composting bins for biodegradable plastics like polystyrene cups, plates and takeout containers
Benefits of Polystyrene Recycling
Now that you know how to recycle polystyrene, let’s take a look at the benefits!
- Polystyrene recycling Sydney helps reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and ultimately cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, if all of the polystyrene in the United States was recycled, it would save enough energy to power 800,000 homes for a year!
- Recycling also creates jobs. The Styrofoam Industry Council estimates that every one million pounds of post-consumer EPS generate nine jobs
- It also conserves resources. For example, it takes only 57% of the energy to produce recycled plastic from virgin materials than it does to create new plastic from scratch
How to Reduce the Impact of Polystyrene in Your World
The city of Sydney has made recycling polystyrene (PS) mandatory in the past few years, and it is now illegal to put PS in your household waste bin. This might seem like a small change but it actually has a huge impact on the environment. Polystyrene is also known for being one of the most difficult materials to recycle due to its low recycling rate and high volume. In Sydney alone, there are 400 trucks full of polystyrene waste each year.
There are a few things you can do to help reduce its impact on our world such as:
- reduce the amount of polystyrene used
- buy food from companies that use biodegradable packaging materials
- donate old blankets made out of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles for park rangers to make into sleeping bags for the homeless
- using less polystyrene packaging material when sending items through the mail or taking them on a plane. Instead, opt for biodegradable alternatives instead
Conclusion
Clearly, recycling polystyrene is important for the environment and our economy! So, the next time you have polystyrene waste, don’t throw it away- recycle it instead! And remember to tell your friends and family about this easy way to help save our planet.
If you live in Sydney, then recycling polystyrene is a part of your everyday life. Polystyrene can be recycled, but it’s not always easy to find places that will accept it. That’s why it’s important to recycle as much polystyrene as possible in Sydney. If you’re not sure how or where to recycle your polystyrene then give the experts a call or visit our website today!
