Polystyrene foam, commonly known as styrofoam, is an easily-polluting object only banned in very few towns in the US. It takes a while to dispose of properly and can pollute foods and drinks, especially those hotter in temperature. For being so polluting and bad for being near hot food, they are very commonly used as take-out containers for hot food. Even burning styrofoam is bad for the environment.
Bethany Stufflet, a sophomore at Hamburg came up with a few objects that add to the styrofoam pollution. Packaging peanuts are typically made from styrofoam, along with party dishes like styrofoam cups. These items are typically not disposed of properly, and some even being littered and polluting the air. Another sophomore at Hamburg, Oliver Pursely, says they see styrofoam quite frequently, especially since their family gets a lot of packages.
Ava Green, a junior at Hamburg knows about how this pollution can be never ending. Once a road cleaner cleans up any pollution, a piece of styrofoam can come by and start the whole pollution process over again. Polystyrene foam can break down easily in alcohol, but it takes a lot of alcohol to do so.
For more about styrofoam pollution, visit: https://cehn.org/our-work/eco-healthy-child-care
