STYROFOAM

 STYROFOAM

Styrofoam has been around since 

The 1800's

Well not exactly

Something similar

EPS 

Expanded Polysterene Foam

Was first discovered in Berlin in 1839

In 1946 the Dow Chemical Company

Played around and came up with

Extruded Polysterene Foam

aka Styrofoam

Strong

Light

Buoyant

Moisture resistant

Hailed as a wonder product

Used for such things as

Protective packaging and surfboards

(Dawn patrol, dude?)

And then came concerns about 

Its impact on the environment

Styrofoam doesn't biodegrade

Becomes toxic food for marine life

Meaning if we eat fish we are all 

Ingesting Styrofoam in some form

(Hold the grouper!)

There are companies that can recycle Styrofoam

But because it's so light 

98 percent air

It becomes a question of economics

Less than 2 percent is recycled

In New York City Styrofoam is banned

For single use items such as cups plates and trays

And for peanuts in containers

Technology might one day

Provide a solution  to degrade plastics

(Mealworms, anyone?)

For now the real answer is about our own practices

Anything single use is not efficient

So whatever we can do 

To reduce our complicity

Is a step forward