What we called “polystyrene ban” is actually a limitation for polystyrene food containers. With polystyrene products becoming more popular among consumers. It seems that foam waste can’t be controlled any more.
Recently, many states in America has raised local policies to ban polystyrene, or to be exact, the use of polystyrene food contains. More than 100 cities and counties in 11 states have passed local laws restricting or banning the use of foam containers. Not surprisingly, such ban has began in an early time in California since 1989, when Sonoma and Carmel became the first two cities to ban plastic foam containers. Recently, Hawaii has also banned food service bubbles on Big Island and Maui.
The main reason for the ban of polystyrene food container is that such material is usually lightweight, bulky and dirty, that creates difficulties for the recycling process. However, the problem is that we have to find something new to replace it. So far, we haven’t been able to find completely pollution-free alternatives yet.
Opponents of the ban said that this is not to say polystyrene is not bad for the environment, but banning polystyrene products will not reduce waste as we hope. A study released by the California Water Resources Management Commission found that “if such alternatives are discarded in the same way as prohibited items, simple alternatives do not reduce waste production.”
PS foam containers recycling can be done well as many other plastic products, it is just that the dirty surface makes its recycling process more difficult.
Now, many companies are looking for effective recycling ways. GREENMAX, which has committed to polystyrene recycling for decades, is a polystyrene recycling specialist. GREENMAX polystyrene compactor can not only reduce the foam volume as a high ratio of 50:1, but also offer you the whole cleaning line according to your requirement.
What we can do is to minimize pollution and save resources, so if the ban it not the best option, why not choose to recycle it?