polystyrene containers

New York City bans polystyrene food containers

As estimated by the city’s Department of Sanitation, 28,500 tons of expanded polystyrene was discarded in 2014 and  approximately 90% of this amount consisted of single-use cups, trays, and containers.

The difficulty  to recycle economically due to heavy wax or plastic coatings, polystyrene food and beverage containers triggered their recent banning in New York City. A number of other cities, including Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco, as well as Washington, D.C. have already banned polystyrene food containers before.  Food establishments, stores, and manufacturers in New York City may not possess, sell, or offer to customers plastic foam containers and thus will be seeking alternative materials. In addition, the city will also prohibit the sale of loose-fill polystyrene—commonly called packing peanuts.

Polystyrene, is manufactured using benzene, from coal; styrene, from petroleum; and ethylene, a "blowing agent" used in the process since the crackdown on CFCs. Extracting these raw materials generates air and water pollution, and the process of whipping them together can lead to lung cancer and neurological problems in factory workers. Polystyrene is non-biodegradable and after entering the environment, it will around even after a century.

Human population using polystyrene food containers can ingest a bit of styrene with the drink and food. Researches have demonstrated that styrene has been present in our fatty tissue and breast milk for the past 30 years. 

After the banning, alternative containers will replace the foam containers.   For example, those made of recycled papers. Such alternatives may get degraded more easily than the polystyrene, however, they still cause environmental footprint. For example, from chemicals used during the manufacture stage. 

More information: 

http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-styrofoam.html

http://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i3/Big-Apple-Bans-Foam-Containers.html

http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic967858.files/PolystyreneFactSheets.pdf