Comments by "William Wells" (@williamwells1862) on "Mexican Cartels: The Fallout of El Chapo" video.
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Is Styrofoam Recyclable?
Unfortunately, Styrofoam isn't as recyclable as we want it to be. Most Styrofoam products do contain a small recycling symbol and the #6 label. However, that recycling symbol is misleading: Styrofoam tends to go straight to the landfill unless you can find a trusted drop-off location near you.
Recycling Styrofoam isn’t as cut and dry as recycling other types of waste, like plastic. It faces a few challenges that hinder its recyclability. For one thing, Styrofoam is difficult to revert to its most basic form and very few recycling facilities have the necessary equipment needed to recycle it during the recycling process. For this reason, you'll have to contact your local recycling facility to see if Styrofoam products are accepted.
Recycling Styrofoam isn’t as cut and dry as recycling other types of waste, like plastic. It faces a few challenges that hinder its recyclability. For one thing, Styrofoam is difficult to revert to its most basic form and very few recycling facilities have the necessary equipment needed to recycle it during the recycling process. For this reason, you'll have to contact your local recycling facility to see if Styrofoam products are accepted.
Plus, throwing EPS products into the recycling bin can actually contaminate the entire recycling bin. This could lead to the entire bin getting rejected when it arrives at a recycling facility. Why? Because EPS contains harmful toxins, and if those toxins are broken down by recycling processes, they could end up in products we use in our everyday lives.
Moreover, EPS products can hardly be reused. This is especially true for food and beverage containers, which are arguably one of the largest uses for Styrofoam.
What You Can Do
The appeal and convenience of Styrofoam are undeniable, but there are some actions you can take to curb your consumption and cut down on waste.
1. Opt for Styrofoam Alternatives
The same way we try to avoid single-use plastics, you can avoid single-use Styrofoam. Instead of using single-use coffee cups, try the Sustainable On-the-Go Coffee Cup featured in the Brightly shop. It's made from discarded coffee husk and can be reused indefinitely.
Whenever you grab a coffee on the go, you can bring your reusable cup with you and eliminate the need for Styrofoam—or other hard to recycle, single-use cups. And instead of using Styrofoam takeout containers for leftovers, use reusable containers that won't get trashed after one use.
2. Don't Just Throw It Away
If Styrofoam can’t be avoided then do the next best thing: Dispose of it properly. Don’t just throw it in the trash because that's one way to contribute to the problem. Instead, you can send it to a recycling facility that accepts Styrofoam.
Earth911 helps you locate the nearest recycling center or drop-off center—just type in your zip code, and you’re good to go. You could also collect your Styrofoam first before donating it to prevent multiple trips.
3. Buy From Sustainable Brands
When shopping, it's not only important to look at the environmental footprint of what you're buying: It's also important to look at the packaging. Look for brands that use biodegradable, compostable, or upcycled packaging.
When we shop more sustainably, we're actively voting with our dollars and telling industries that consumers prioritize eco-friendly business practices.
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