Styrofoam and Plastic Bans

-

What is Styrofoam and Polystyrene.

According to webstaurantstore, Styrofoam is a closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam. It is often used interchangeably with expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. Polystyrene is a non-biodegradable hard plastic. Both are usually used in to-go applications including take-oucontainers, disposable utensils, and coffee cups. Both are non-biodegradable and considered cited dangerous to human life, sea life and wildlife. Styrofoam containers are also said to be among the items that contribute significantly to flooding especially in Trinidad.



Common plastic and styrofoam items- https://www.stlucianewsonline.com


Styrofoam and Plastic Bans in the Caribbean

More than 60 countries have already committed to introducing levies and bans to reduce single-use plastic waste.The fight against single-use plastic and styrofoam has been gathering steam over the past years, and the Caribbean has been one of the regions taking the lead in this area:

  • Grenada has put in place a ban on styrofoam imports effective September 2018, a ban on styrofoam sales effective April 2019 and is finalizing consultations to enact a ban on single-use plastic products by February 2019.
  • Dominica has announced its aim to completely ban common plastics and single-use Styrofoam cups and food containers — effective January 2019.
  • Come 2019, polystyrene products, such as Styrofoam containers, will be illegal in Trinidad and Tobago. Environmental groups have been pushing for a Styrofoam ban for quite some time, with a petition being launched back in 2017 outlining the dangers and hazards of Styrofoam.http://www.looptt.com





Alternatives to Plastic and Styrofoam:

  • Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic- flexible, lightweight and recyclable 
  • Polylactic acid (PLA) plastic- biodegradable 
  • Paper/Double Poly Coated Paper- durable and moisture resistant.
  • Sugarcane/Bagasse- biodegradable, with grease-resistant properties.
  • Post-Consumer Paperboard- combines environmentally friendly properties with the durability of paperboard construction.
  • Reusable polypropylene containers-durable, synthetic resin construction perfect for multiple-use applications.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Major Impacts of Plastic Pollution

-
Image
Fatal Effects of Plastic Pollution Plastic pollution is one of the most relevant and serious problems of this Generation. Plastic has gradually become a staple for our everyday life, but this is no longer practical. The production, use and disposal model for conventional plastics is ecologically unsustainable has proved to be very detrimental to the environment. 'The global plastic consumption throughout the globe was approximated at 260 million tons in 2008, and it was predicted to be more than 300 tons in 2015'– according to the Global Industry Analysts. ( https://www.eartheclipse.com ). The major impacts of plastic pollution: Environmental Impacts Plastic bags in the environment pose significant hazards to wildlife both on land and in the ocean. Plastic bags can choke waterways and exacerbate natural disasters. Plastic bags and Styrofoam containers take hundreds of years to decompose, contaminating soil and water. Plastic Pollution in Nigeria- http://www...
Read more