News by: Lauren Sullivan
Have you ever thought about where things go when we recycle them? Unlike most recyclable materials that dissolve into the Earth, Styrofoam just sits there.
“I feel like it keeps it colder and not all watered down like in other cups,” sophomore McKenzie Olson, “It doesn’t water down at all.
Styrofoam is actually made from polystyrene, which is a petroleum-based plastic. Therefore, it is harmful to the environment. People still use it, though, because of its lightweight and has good insulation properties that keep products cold or hot.
“Styrofoam is just easier to use and I never really thought about how bad it is for the environment,” said junior Kevin O’Brien.
There are even health effects that go along with eating or drinking food from Styrofoam containers.
Long-term exposure to small quantities of styrene is also suspected to cause low platelet counts or hemoglobin, chromosomal and lymphatic abnormalities and neurotoxic effects due to accumulation of styrene in the tissues of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, resulting in: fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and other chronic health problems associated with the nervous system.
Programs are starting to pop up to educate people on the dangers of Styrofoam on the environment and health. Here are some reasons why people should use alternatives:
• Post-consumer recycled paper, bamboo, corn plastics, etc. are easily renewable resources and compostable.
• Paper products can be recycled at most people’s doorstep where community recycling is in place.
• Every ton of 100% Post-consumer waste recycled paper products you buy saves:
o 12 trees
o 1,087 pounds of solid waste
o 1,560 kilowatts of energy (2 months of electric power required by the average US home)
o 1,196 gallons of water
o 1,976 lbs. of greenhouse gases (1,600 miles traveled in the average US car)
Although for some people the alternatives just aren’t as good.
“I was upset when Sonic switched to paper for awhile,” said sophomore Kelsey Mason, “I didn’t like it as much.”

List composed by (http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-styrofoam.html)