Styrofoam is essentially made up of polystyrene which is one of the most commonly used materials for packaging and disposable food containers. Polystyrene is also used to make hydrogen bombs and napalm! Styrofoam is also highly flammable, and the production of it involves the use of Benzene, which is a carcinogen.

Environmentally speaking, Styrofoam takes a long time to decompose and when it is ingested by animals, blocks digestive tracts. It is therefore imperative for people to understand that Styrofoam recycling is nothing short of vital.

Styrofoam recycling is a very complex and expensive process. Understanding the recycling process is vital to truely grasp just how complex recyling really is. The process is further complicated by the large amount of waste that it produces. Many people choose to circumvent the Styrofoam recycling process by melting it, and then using it to extract raw materials. This does not involve the use of any solvents, and so it is a greener alternative. The only problem being that Styrofoam recycling in this way also needs to be done in large quantities.

Often, when you have Styrofoam objects that you want to have recycled, the recycle plants will refuse to accept small quantities of the material. This is a problem that many households face, and unless you are willing to wait for years collecting massive quantities of Styrofoam before you recycle it, you will probably want to find other uses for them.

You can do this by reusing them to pack stuff that you want to ship. Another great way to reuse Styrofoam is to take it down to your local craft shop or use them as planters to help the drainage and act as a filler. If you are in the US, you can send in your Styrofoam to the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers, and have them recycle it.