Polystyrene (PS) is defined by synthetic polymers that the styrene monomer formed by free radical polymerization, which is a colorless, transparent thermoplastic with 100 degrees Celsius higher than the glass transition temperature, it is often used to make disposable containers that needs to withstand the temperature of boiling water, and disposable foam lunch boxes.
Polystyrene foam plastic widely used in our lives, but was dropped for many years, does not rot in water or soil, affecting cityscape and crops production, and recycling polystyrene will give us more benefits, so to achieve polystyrene waste recycling is imminent.
Now, main ways of polystyrene foam recycling are: granulation after volume reduction, crushing to use for various filling materials, pyrolysis oil or recycled styrofoam and others. Through unremitting efforts, in a small town abroad, there are more than 1300 cubic meters of polystyrene have been “diverted” to do not spam, and they have a new destination, which is the result of a cycle of parliamentary initiative.
By a year’s time, Shoalhaven Shire Council have recycled three county’s waste polystyrene foam, to landfill them and saved much space. And provide kits and brackets for collecting polystyrene to the eight companies, and encourage others to use their own tools to complete the recycling operation. Residents also seize this opportunity to recycle bulky items with waste treatment facilities provided by the Council.
A council spokesman said, “polystyrene landfill has been significantly reduced. In the past 12 months， there have been more than 1300 cubic meters of waste polystyrene was recycled, saved a lot of space. It only completed one sixth of the recycling program requirements. Polystyrene foam was thrown into the trash can with a yellow cap, because it will affect other waste recycling. However, when separated, any garbage station can complete this process and it is made of new plastic products. Then this product is loaded into a container and sent to other places. ”
However, waste polystyrene can not inaccessible biogeochemical cycles through biological decomposition and photolysis. Due to its low specific gravity of expanded polystyrene, so that drift follow the wind or float on the water, caused landscape damage caused by the subjective. According to the survey the California Coastal Commission (California Coastal Commission) of polystyrene is a major ocean drift. While eating this type of plastic marine organisms, it may cause damage to their digestive system.
Polystyrene foam plastic used widely in our lives, waste polystyrene foam brought us unimaginable dangers, to achieve waste polystyrene recycling was imminent.