Polystyrene is one of the most ubiquitous plastics of our time. Made from highly refined petroleum and found in the casings of computers, in disposable cutlery in yogurt containers and CD jewel cases—as well as in countless other applications—hundreds of thousands of tons of polystyrene are produced in California for our throw-away society.

Foamed polystyrene is produced by adding a blowing agent to polystyrene pellets. As the resulting EPS resin expands it can be molded into cups, or extruded into take-out food boxes. EPS is up to 99% air, which presents significant challenges in terms of waste collection.

377,579 tons of polystyrene are produced in California alone—including 154,808 tons of food service packaging! That’s 154,808 tons of over-processed plastics designed to head straight to the landfill after a use time of a minute or less—the time it takes you to drink your coffee and toss the cup.

Because of its light-weight nature, EPS is one of California’s main litter culprits. Due to its disposable nature, EPS waste is often discarded as litter. One recent California Department of Transportation study discovered that Polystyrene waste constituted the second most common item extracted from storm drains.

Furthermore, even when EPS is disposed of properly, it can easily be diverted from its track to the landfill by wind or other unforeseen forces. Once in the environment, foamed poylstyrene will often enter our ocean, where it becomes a principle component of marine debris. Indeed, the California Coastal Coalition has found studies of debris deposited on beaches that foamed polystyrene is the second most abundant type of marine debris. Up to 90% of marine debris is plastic, and most marine debris comes from urban runoff, like fastfood waste. The Algalita Marine Research Foundation has found that in at least one area of the Pacific plastic outweighs plankton by a factor of six! The Ocean Protection Council in its February Resolution has called for the reduction of single use, unrecyclable food packaging, like foamed polystyrene, as an important step in the reduction of marine debris.

What You Can Do:

• Write a letter in support CAW-sponsored AB 904 (Feuer), which would require all takeout food packaging in the state to be recyclable or compostable.
• Learn about this year's "flotilla" of plastics legislation.
• Lean about compostable and recyclable alternatives to foamed polystyrene.
• What a video on the problem of marine debris.

Additional Resources:

• California Intergrated Waste Management Board 2004 Study on Polystyrene