Lauren Olson / 10 minute read
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foodservice ware is a human and environmental hazard. Common types include cups, hinged containers, bowls, trays, and plates. EPS is made with styrene, a suspected carcinogen, and is commonly mischaracterized as Styrofoam™ as both are lightweight foam materials.
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EPS has been found to migrate into food and contaminate the air when produced, and there is serious concern with its use for food contact materials. When released into the environment EPS foodservice ware breaks down into smaller pieces of plastic that affect wildlife who inadvertently ingest them. EPS also presents challenges in the development of a robust network for recycling collection and transformation into new products.
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Important points:
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EPS is made of a toxic chemical
The main building block of expanded polystyrene (EPS) is the chemical styrene, which has been found to be airborne near petroleum oil and natural gas refinement facilities. Oil refinement facilities are clustered on the gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana, including one particular stretch along the lower Mississippi River that is dubbed "Cancer Alley." This area is disproportionately home to minority and lower-income households. The health implications are a growing environmental justice issue for the residents there, often referred to as “fenceline communities” due to their proximity to these companies. However, with the increased use of natural gas as the source of these petrochemicals, refinement facilities are also being built in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia along the Ohio River.
The main building block of expanded polystyrene (EPS) is the chemical styrene, which has been found to be airborne near petroleum oil and natural gas refinement facilities. Oil refinement facilities are clustered on the gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana, including one particular stretch along the lower Mississippi River that is dubbed "Cancer Alley." This area is disproportionately home to minority and lower-income households. The health implications are a growing environmental justice issue for the residents there, often referred to as “fenceline communities” due to their proximity to these companies. However, with the increased use of natural gas as the source of these petrochemicals, refinement facilities are also being built in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia along the Ohio River.
Occupational exposure to styrene is linked to cancer and other negative health effects. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the workers in manufacturing plants that make expanded polystyrene can experience health effects on their central nervous system that include headache, fatigue, and dizziness. The National Toxicology Program’s Report on Carcinogens determined that styrene is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen (cancer-causing) chemical. In particular, there is a direct link between styrene exposure and lymphohematopoietic cancer including leukemia and lymphoma in workers exposed to styrene.
In a study looking at tissue samples of non-occupationally exposed persons, all tissue was found to have some amount of styrene. Without living or working at a facility processing fossil fuels, a route of exposure is food. All EPS foodservice ware has styrene that can migrate into food. The amount of styrene in food depends on many factors, including the food type (fat, acidity), conditions (time, temperature, sun exposure), and production conditions of the food packaging itself (structure, type).
In a study looking at tissue samples of non-occupationally exposed persons, all tissue was found to have some amount of styrene. Without living or working at a facility processing fossil fuels, a route of exposure is food. All EPS foodservice ware has styrene that can migrate into food. The amount of styrene in food depends on many factors, including the food type (fat, acidity), conditions (time, temperature, sun exposure), and production conditions of the food packaging itself (structure, type).
EPS litters the environment
When EPS is inadvertently released into the environment, it can spread far. Expanded polystyrene is made of small cellular beads molded into containers and shapes. By the nature of the material, there is air between the cellular beads that give it insulative properties. These same properties allow it to break into smaller pieces when introduced into the environment, including abrasion in water currents or by the wind on land. Leakage of EPS into the environment occurs through littering, escapement from landfills, and other collection points. EPS is a significant contributor to marine litter worldwide, and with small fragments easily dispersed by wind or adhering to surfaces when wet, it is particularly difficult to retrieve during manual beach cleans.
The amount of EPS in the environment is also a danger to wildlife. Styrene monomer is rapidly volatilized and readily degraded in the environment. In marine environments, the small particles become exposed to a variety of contaminants and pollutants in the water, such as heavy metals and oils. When marine life mistakes EPS particles for food, they ingest these contaminants which can cause intestinal blockage, reduced body weight, and slower growth. EPS can further degrade into nanoparticles that can be ingested by microorganisms that serve as food for other marine wildlife, making their way into our food chain.
When EPS is inadvertently released into the environment, it can spread far. Expanded polystyrene is made of small cellular beads molded into containers and shapes. By the nature of the material, there is air between the cellular beads that give it insulative properties. These same properties allow it to break into smaller pieces when introduced into the environment, including abrasion in water currents or by the wind on land. Leakage of EPS into the environment occurs through littering, escapement from landfills, and other collection points. EPS is a significant contributor to marine litter worldwide, and with small fragments easily dispersed by wind or adhering to surfaces when wet, it is particularly difficult to retrieve during manual beach cleans.
The amount of EPS in the environment is also a danger to wildlife. Styrene monomer is rapidly volatilized and readily degraded in the environment. In marine environments, the small particles become exposed to a variety of contaminants and pollutants in the water, such as heavy metals and oils. When marine life mistakes EPS particles for food, they ingest these contaminants which can cause intestinal blockage, reduced body weight, and slower growth. EPS can further degrade into nanoparticles that can be ingested by microorganisms that serve as food for other marine wildlife, making their way into our food chain.
Recycling of EPS is limited
Proper disposal of EPS is vital to keep it from entering wildlife, particularly in marine environments. According to the EPS industry group, EPS Industry Alliance, recycling efforts are increasing. In 2019, 46.4 million pounds of post-consumer and 90.4 million pounds of post-industrial EPS foam were recycled. However, this report did not include the recycling rate compared to the generation of the material. The EPA estimates that in 2018 alone, 80,000 tons of EPS containers were generated, and of that, less than 5,000 tons (6.25%) were recycled. EPS is difficult to recycle because it is a high volume and low-density material, which makes it unprofitable for recyclers to sell by weight. Since EPS is made directly from petrochemicals, the rate for recycled EPS is dependent on the price of oil. If it’s less costly to make from oil than buy recycled, recycling efforts will be unprofitable. Food waste is also a contaminant on EPS foodservice ware, which has to be washed before recycling.
Proper disposal of EPS is vital to keep it from entering wildlife, particularly in marine environments. According to the EPS industry group, EPS Industry Alliance, recycling efforts are increasing. In 2019, 46.4 million pounds of post-consumer and 90.4 million pounds of post-industrial EPS foam were recycled. However, this report did not include the recycling rate compared to the generation of the material. The EPA estimates that in 2018 alone, 80,000 tons of EPS containers were generated, and of that, less than 5,000 tons (6.25%) were recycled. EPS is difficult to recycle because it is a high volume and low-density material, which makes it unprofitable for recyclers to sell by weight. Since EPS is made directly from petrochemicals, the rate for recycled EPS is dependent on the price of oil. If it’s less costly to make from oil than buy recycled, recycling efforts will be unprofitable. Food waste is also a contaminant on EPS foodservice ware, which has to be washed before recycling.
EPS cannot be re-expanded, so the resulting recycled materials are usually made into hard resin polystyrene items like picture frames which are considered downcycling. Although mechanical recycling and collection remain difficult for this low-density and high volume material, the physical transformation to recycle EPS can be aided by chemical recycling. Chemical recycling is the process of using a process called pyrolysis to break down EPS into styrene, which can be used to make more EPS or polystyrene plastic items. Several plants have opened up to try to keep petrochemicals in use rather than downcycling EPS into subpar materials that cannot be recycled. Incineration, whether intentional or accidental, can release polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This class of chemicals is toxic and carcinogenic, has long degradation times, and is highly accumulated in the environment.
What you can do to ban EPS in your area
Over 268 laws and regulations are in place to ban the use of EPS. The Plastic Pollution Coalition has a step-by-step guide to creating an EPS ban in your municipality. The first step is to become educated on the dangers of EPS. The next steps are: to build a local movement, connect with others working on a ban (or who might be interested), study successful ordinances, write to friends/neighbors as well as local businesses you support, and contact your local representatives. You can count on World Centric’s support, use this form to contact us.
