[greenyes] Fw: [greenyes] Its polystyrene not styrofoam

["Rod" <rodmuir@no.address>]

Ann;
Thanks for the clarification
4 real quick questions please
Why the switch from styrene to propylene?
Is this recent?
What is current ratio of use.
Is there a quick way to tell the difference?
Thanks
Rod Muir
Waste Diversion Canada
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ann Schneider" <schneiderann@no.address>
To: <greenyes@no.address>
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 4:20 PM
Subject: [greenyes] Its polystyrene not styrofoam


> Hi All:
>  
> Just to be nit picky, or to be technically correct, the term for this
> form of packaging is polystyrene not styrofoam.  Styrofoam (tm) is a
> trademarked material from DuPont and is actually wall insulation boards. 
> It is a material you would find in a construction or demolition site but
> is not what I think most of you are talking about, like the single use
> utensils and cups, loose fill packaging material or the block packaging
> material is actually polystyrene. Also the programs that collect
> polystyrene are probably collecting expanded polystyrene (eps) (e.g.,
> white coffee cups)  not extruded polystyrene (e.g., forks, spoons and
> clear cups).  Also note that much of the block packaging that looks like
> polystyrene is actually polypropylene and the two can not be mixed with
> out real problems at the end use manufacturing site.
>  
> And just for the sake of history, one of the old issues with EPS was the
> blowing agent used to expand the plastic polymer.  CFC and then HCFCs
> (chlorofluorocarbons) used to be used and were considered a threat to the
> ozone layer.  The off gassing was a concern if a densifyer was going to
> be used to make the transportation of PS more cost effective.  Over the
> years many manufacturers converted to CO2 (carbon dioxide) as the blowing
> agent.  I haven't heard any recent concerns over off gassing of this
> greenhouse gas emission.  Interested folks may want to go to the
> Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) website to see what are the
> latest enviro concerns.
>  
> Ann Schneider
> Mtn. View CA
> and former IWM Certificate Instructor & Coordinator
> UC Santa Cruz and San Jose State Univ.
> and nag for correct terminology
> 
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