Some people assume that polystyrene, especially packaging
products, are exhausting our landfills and cannot be recycled.
Many of those who know that recycling is possible say it is not cost effective or there
is no market for it.
THE FACT IS...
- Polystyrene
food service products form substantially less than 1% of municipal solid waste by weight
and volume.
They are already being successfully recycled into useful products such as
office accessories and building insulation, even though this can be a very costly
procedure.
-
The
technology and markets for recycled polystyrene are rapidly expanding.
-
For
years, manufacturers of polystyrene products have reprocessed "in-house" scrap.
Currently in Australia they recycle about 5,000 tonnes of scrap each year.
-
The
demand for recycled polystyrene is increasing. It produces a quality product that can in
turn be recycled, again and again, wherever its useful life ends.
DID YOU KNOW...
Independent scientific study has
shown that using polystyrene for single-use applications has less environmental impact
than common alternatives.
The only effective way to properly assess the overall environmental impact of any
material is "life-cycle analysis" - an internationally accepted method to
evaluate all impacts, including raw materials processing, energy consumption and waste
emissions.
In a study* using this cradle-to-grave method to compile the energy/environmental
impacts of foam polystyrene and bleached paperboard for cups, plates and food packaging,
it was found that polystyrene manufacture, use and disposal
- requires 30% less energy
- produces 46% less emissions to atmosphere
- generates 42% less water-borne waste.
These comparisons are even more favourable to polystyrene when recycling is taken into
consideration.
This study conducted by Franklin Associates Ltd., a consultant to the US Environmental
Protection Agency, also revealed that if the plastic products they studied in the United
States were replaced with non-plastic alternative products, total energy consumption would
have to be increased by 834.2 trillion kwh, enough energy to heat 4 million homes for one
year. This is as many homes as there are in Victoria, NSW and Queensland added together.
*Resource and Environmental Profile Analysis of Foam Polystyrene and Bleached
Paperboard Containers. Franklin Associates.
Growing concern over local and national waste disposal problems has
focussed attention on plastics and their environmental impact.
Some people believe that banning, taxing or otherwise restricting the use of plastic
products will help solve these solid waste disposal side effects.
However such an approach could increase the use of alternatives which may have more
undesirable environmental and waste disposal side effects.
Myth
Banning, taxing and
restricting the use of plastic packaging will help the environment and ease pressure on
landfill space.
Fact
Polystyrene packaging is extending the life of landfills in two
ways:
Firstly polystyrene and other plastic packaging keeps food fresh and at the correct
temperature for longer, thereby helping to reduce food spoilage. (Already over 30% by
weight of Australian domestic garbage is wasted food**).
Secondly, an overseas study*** revealed that banning plastic packaging, including
polystyrene, would have the following consequences -
| Weight of alternative package |
up 300% |
| Volume of waste |
up 150% |
| Energy consumed |
up 100% |
| Cost of alternative packaging |
up 100% |
Myth
Plastics from the household are a major component
of waste in landfills.
Fact
Plastics
are a minor component in Australian landfills. Total plastic represents less than 8% by
weight of domestic garbage**.
In addition it should be noted that domestic garbage is only about one third of the
total waste going to Australian landfills. The rest is mainly industrial waste, building
rubble, clean fill and other non-domestic material.
Myth
Because polystyrene does not degrade it is bad for landfills.
Fact
Like
all plastics, polystyrene is inert and will not degrade in landfills. As a result
polystyrene adds stability to landfills and does not break down to form either leachate,
which may effect groundwater, or greenhouse gases such as methane which can escape into
the atmosphere if not properly collected.
Myth
Biodegradable materials are best for landfills.
Fact
Modern
landfills are designed to inhibit biodegradation so that nothing readily degrades - not
polystyrene, not paper, not even waste food. Materials most commonly regarded as
biodegradable do not in fact disappear in landfills. Even newspapers have been found
intact and readable after decades of burial under landfills.
** Victorian EPA - Garbage Analysis Programme.
*** German Society for Research into Packaging Market.
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