Good day to you kind reader! We are going to look at some of the news stories from around the world that discuss polystyrene recycling.
New York City
Polystyrene recycling has been a hot topic in recent times, with the decision to ban polystyrene in New York City being quickly overturned after an appeal. But now, an appeal to stop the original appeal is taking place.
Confused? Let us explain.
NYC decided to ban polystyrene because it couldn’t be recycled cost effectively and is not an environmentally friendly plastic for a city with such a large waste output.
Then, plastic companies, recycling companies, food manufacturers, you name it, they were enraged at the decision which negatively affected their coffers and marched all the way to the supreme court and demanded this ban be stopped.
Now, the sanitation commissioner Kathryn Garcia and the city’s law department are fighting the appeal and wish to have to the original ban upheld.
Go Kathryn! If the infrastructure was in place to manage the polystyrene recycling demands of the city, of course we’d be in support of that, but sadly, they are not.
Polystyrene Recycling with the Canadian Plastics Association
Canada is a step ahead when it comes to recycling polystyrene, as they are one of the few countries in the world who offer curbside collections for the lightweight plastic. As well as collecting it and recycling thousands of tonnes every year, they are seeing it recycled into useful applications such as picture frames, coat hangers, office products and surfboard blanks.
Denver, Colorado
In the snowy city of Denver, the first company to start polystyrene recycling has begun thanks to a large grant from the Food Packaging Institute. Whilst they aren’t physically recycling the polystyrene, they are the only business in the city to collect, sort, clean and use recycling machinery to compact the polystyrene into bricks. From there on it is sold to a recycler.
Bijnor, India
A city in India called Bijnor has cried out for help with their rubbish and recycling system, as waste piles up by the roadside and continues to be burned. There is no landfill space in the area and local scientists are concerned about the toxic damage of burning the plastics.
Mayank Malik from St. Mary’s College, Bijnor, said, “Burning of polystyrene polymers such as foam cups, meat trays, egg containers, yogurt and dairy containers release styrene gas, which can be readily absorbed through skin. Long-term exposure to styrene can affect the central nervous system, cause fatigue and depression. At high levels, styrene vapour can damage the eyes and mucous membranes, while dioxin accumulates in our body fat that can be passed on by pregnant women to their babies via the placenta.”