FREE FROM CFC'S.
Question -
Does
foam Polystyrene contain CFC's?
Answer -
No. Extruded foam polystyrene produced
in Australia for meat, chicken and vegetable trays and takeaway food containers, does not
use CFC blowing agents. Producers converted away from CFC's in 1989 ahead of the
Australian Government target and now operate on recycled carbon dioxide or hydrocarbon
gases. Expandable or bead polystyrene (EPS) such as in produce boxes has always used a
hydrocarbon blowing agent.
Question -
Is
Polystyrene degradable?
Answer -
Only very slowly. This is an advantage in landfills
because non-biodegradable plastics neither pollute ground water nor yield methane gas which
is flammable and a contributor to the greenhouse effect. It is possible to incorporate
additives to promote breakdown in sunlight but this in turn inhibits recycling.
Question -
Is
Polystyrene recyclable?
Answer-
Yes. This is the current position in
Australia:
- Polystyrene
producers recycle almost all of the waste polymer, which is mainly produced
during transition from one grade to another during manufacture. More than 99.9% is
reprocessed or recycled and the remainder is safely disposed of in approved landfill.
- Polystyrene
moulders recycle most of their waste in-plant or through a specialist recycler.
The remainder (less than 1%) is disposed of in landfill.
- Consumer
waste, the largest source of waste, is almost all disposed of in landfill. Only a
limited range of products are currently being recycled, such as foam produce boxes and
coat hangers.
In Australia, Full Cycle Plastics currently recycles coat hangers and is expanding its
plant to recycle other consumer wastes. Key issues are the cost of collection and how best
to use recycled materials.
Recycling and collection is continually being increased and these challenges are being
overcome.
POLYSTYRENE RECYCLING - A SIMPLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND PROCESS.
Question -
How
is Polystyrene recycled?
Answer -
Basically the recycling process starts by taking used
polystyrene and chopping it into small pieces which are then washed.
The clean polystyrene is melted at about 200ºC
mixed thoroughly in an extruder and forced through dies into spaghetti like strands.
These strands then cool and harden and are cut up into pellets.
This recycled material has similar physical properties to virgin polystyrene and is
shipped to companies which mould it into final products. Current health regulations
prevent its use in contact with food.
Question -
Is
recycled Polystyrene useful?
Answer -
Yes. There are many uses for recycled
polystyrene. These include the manufacture of office accessories, food serving trays,
refuse containers, wall and building insulation and protective packaging.
Question -
Is
incineration a safe means of disposal of Polystyrene?
Answer -
In many overseas countries polystyrene is recycled
through incineration of municipal waste for energy recovery.
The burning of polystyrene is no more hazardous than combustion of many natural organic
materials. Polystyrene consists solely of carbon and hydrogen. When combustion is
complete, water and carbon dioxide are given off, leaving trace levels of ash, the same
combustion products as from paper or wood.
While some polystyrene in medical and municipal wastes is currently incinerated in
Australia, the energy recovery option has not yet been implemented.
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