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Polystyrene is used to make various products, but its disposal can harm the environment. Recycling techniques include melting it in ovens, using chemicals, and turning it into building materials or new products. Consumers have many options for recycling, including curbside pickup and retailer collection.
Polystyrene is a petroleum byproduct that is used to make products ranging from food storage containers to household items. Styrofoam blocks and packing peanuts are also some of the more popular materials for shipping and packing. While manufacturers continue to use these products in large quantities, many people are concerned about the impact disposing of Styrofoam can have on the environment. Concerns about pollution and disposal have led some companies to develop techniques for recycling polystyrene, including crushing, dissolving or reusing the material to make new products.
One of the most basic methods of recycling polystyrene involves melting this material in a special oven. These recycling ovens are designed to meet the needs of polystyrene recycling and can reduce this material to a fraction of its size by removing excess air. The resulting byproduct is largely petroleum and can be sold to refineries for use in diesel. Others use chemicals or organic compounds, including a citrus oil known as limonene, to melt polystyrene without the use of these ovens.
Expanded polystyrene products, including insulation and packaging materials, can be recycled to form new building materials. Manufacturers shred and grind the Styrofoam into small pieces, then add it to concrete mixes to improve the concrete’s insulating properties. Polystyrene recycling can also include turning this foam into bulk insulation for homes and buildings. Some manufacturers even press the loose foam pieces into sheets of foam insulation for buildings. Recycled polystyrene foam also serves as an important component in structural insulated panels (SIP).
Another form of Styrofoam recycling involves melting these products down and pouring them into molds to form new products. For example, some manufacturers produce benches, picture frames, and housewares using petroleum-derived thermoplastics. Instead, by melting existing polystyrene products, manufacturers can avoid hunting for raw materials. This type of recycling process is also used to produce molds for casting metal or other forms of plastic.
Consumers have many different options when it comes to choosing a polystyrene recycling method. Some retailers collect used polystyrene products for internal recycling or to produce new products. Many communities also provide curbside pickup for these materials or accept these products for delivery at local recycling centers. Shipping and shipping companies can take packing materials and reuse them to pack future products. Some Styrofoam industry associations also accept these products by mail, then arrange for recycling or reuse.
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