What to do with all that styrofoam laying around? Sure, you can have fun with
Hummers
or put it in your
garden, but at the end of the day, it's just
trash.
Even here in San Francisco, where styrofoam will be banned starting next year:
Polystyrene foam "is a notorious pollutant that breaks down into smaller, non-biodegradable pieces that are ingested by marine life and other wildlife thus harming or killing them," the legislation reads. There is also no easy way to recycle polystyrene foam, according to the legislation.
No easy way?
So a quick search shows that indeed, one can easily recycle it.
With Oranges no less.
Looks pretty easy to me. Just spray it on!
Now, I agree with banning the stuff completely. But as the article states, we have 50 years worth of the stuff already out there, making a terrible mess in the environment.
And this process reduces C02 emissions:
Since I'm in San Francisco, and my supervisor had apparently just voted on the styrofoam ban, I called his office first to see what if anything had been discussed about it. Well, let's just say I was told to call the sponsor of the bill, Aaron Peskin, where I left a message. Maybe if I was calling about building a Home Depot or Walmart I'd get someone. Hmmm.
Well, how about our favorite recycling company, Sunset Scavenger?
The first receptionist forwarded me to the NorCal head office, where I spoke to the CEO's assistant, who was quite interested in the topic. Alas, she didn't know what if anything was being done, and forwarded me to someone who may know more, and I left a message. Not knowing the costs involved, it's hard to know how good an idea it is.
Well it ain't blue vinyl, but it may be worthwhile and no one seems to be aware of it.