| Styrofoam, also known as polystyrene, is a plastic | | | | use: |
| that can be found everywhere but unfortunately | | | | * Keep the Styrofoam for packaging. You may |
| is also very hard to recycle. You may have | | | | need to ship something later and keeping the |
| already discovered that your recycling company | | | | Styrofoam you do have will definitely help your |
| won't take it, like most. The reason for this is the | | | | package stay safe. Just break larger chunks of |
| petroleum-derived material it's made from takes a | | | | Styrofoam into smaller pieces and keep them in a |
| long time to break down, is highly flammable and | | | | bag. If you have smaller pieces that may get lost |
| can kill animals if they accidentally eat it. For these | | | | around the house, wrap it up using plastic shopping |
| reasons, I find it amazing that this material is used | | | | bags you may still have laying around. |
| in so many different places, especially in the food | | | | * Give it to other people who can use it for |
| industry. | | | | shipping. You can give it to your friends and family |
| You may also see different products that are | | | | for shipping their items especially, like my mother, |
| made from Styrofoam but don't appear to be. If | | | | for people who like to sell items on eBay. You can |
| you're not sure, you can always look for the | | | | also find craft stores who take styrofoam for |
| number 6 stamped in the recycling symbol | | | | various craft projects. You can even use |
| somewhere on the product. Since it will probably | | | | polystyrene in planters as filler which improves |
| be a long time before many people stop using | | | | water drainage. |
| Styrofoam, it's a good idea to know what to do | | | | * Recycle it. Searching online for different |
| with it in the mean time. The easy thing to do is | | | | companies that will recycle it is the easiest way |
| just stop using it or avoid buying products made | | | | to find someone who will take it to recycle. Some |
| from Styrofoam. Unfortunately, you can't stop | | | | recyclers will even allow you to mail it to them, if |
| other people from shipping you items that you | | | | there aren't any in your area. You may even earn |
| buy filled with those "peanuts" that are made | | | | a little money from these recyclers if you have a |
| from polystyrene or some other filler made from | | | | bunch of Styrofoam for them. |
| the same. | | | | The best option is prevention so the first thing |
| To start with, if you do have Styrofoam | | | | you should do, as I mentioned earlier, is to not |
| products or items currently, avoid throwing it into | | | | buy any and look for companies, if the |
| your garbage and look for ways to recycle it. As | | | | information is available, who use other products to |
| I mentioned early, this may be hard to do. | | | | fill their boxes for shipping. Many of us do find it |
| Styrofoam can be recycled though but is normally | | | | hard to avoid though and the above tips should |
| recycled to make more of the same. If you'll | | | | help you in knowing what to do with this |
| looking to keep the Styrofoam you do have out | | | | un-ecofriendly material. |
| of the garbage pile, here are a few tips you can | | | | |