Polystyrene (PS), otherwise known as plastic #6, was accidentally discovered by a Berlin pharmacist in 1839. While polystyrene is widely used today, it is rarely found in plastic bottles – it contains benzene which is generally considered a carcinogenic substance.
What is it made of?
Polystyrene is a thermoplastic polymer, and its molecular formula is (-CHC6H5-CH2-)n. It’s rigid at room temperature, but can be easily molded when hot.
What is it used for?
Polystyrene can be found in plastic utensils, CD jewel cases, plastic party cups, food containers, and deli trays.
Can it be recycled locally?
No! Unfortunately, plastic #6 cannot be recycled in the Lowcountry. Hopefully this will change soon – we’ve heard rumors and rumblings from both Charleston and Dorchester counties. In the mean time, try to avoid them when you can – and reuse them when you can’t. Feel free to call your local recycling office (links to the right) and let them know you’d like to have polystyrene recycling.
What does it look like?
Polypropylene can be either translucent or colored. It’s flexible to a point, but generally rigid – this is good for finely detailed molding. Here is what I collected over a couple weeks:
Why is this important?
Once plastic is created, it’s going to be around for a long time. I guess the best way to keep polystyrene out of the landfill (polystyrene is not recyclable in most areas) is to avoid products using it as packaging. Recycling programs need to be broadened to include all plastic resins so polystyrene can be reclaimed to make things like vents, cartons, plates, insulation, and packing. Sounds boring, but hey – reducing our impact in every way possible is the only real path to a sustainable future. We’ve got to use less, and recycle more.
Want to learn more?
I found this great page at the University of Southern Mississippi. Both Wikipedia and Earth Odyssey have good info.
Previously on Go Green:
- Hi, I’m Polyethylene Terephthalate – Plastic #1
- Hi, I’m High Density Polyethylene – Plastic #2
- Hi, I’m Polyvinyl Chloride – Plastic #3
- Hi, I’m Low Density Polyethylene – Plastic #4
- Hi, I’m Polypropylene – Plastic #5
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