Polystyrene Waste and Its Management
Polystyrene is the third most widely used raw material for disposable products, after paper and plastic. It comes in two forms; expanded or extruded and is also known as Styrofoam, which is a genericized trademark. Commonly, Styrofoam is used for disposable cups, plates etc. and it does not decompose for hundreds of years. This makes significant negative impact on the environment and activists the world over are dead against its usage. Since they float on water, unmanaged waste often ends up in the ocean, causing harm to marine life. Also, animals do not recognise this synthetic material waste and consume it, mistaking it for food. Why is it popular? Polystyrene has excellent hygienic qualities and thermal insulation properties, making it ideal for disposable food containers, plates, cups etc. It keeps hot items hot and cold items cold for longer duration because of its excellent thermal resistance. Polystyrene food containers also keep food fresher for longer and is far e...