06 Polystyrene Story

THE POLYSTYRENE STORY

PRESENTATION OF CONCERNS AND FACTS OF THE INDUSTRY

How it all started

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Disregard for Scientific Information Have you heard? Nalgene is phasing out their polycarbonate Lexan bottles (# 7) made with bisphenol A (BPA). This may have something to do with the Canadian government's decision today to label BPA a toxic chemical. (but)the migration of bisphenol A into food and beverage products from polycarbonate is not a concern," according to Canada spring. based on scientific research, Health Canada has concluded that 18-litre polycarbonate bottles are safe for use and that our customers can confidently continue to use them without concern,"

Aftermath of unsubstantiated report With the alleged proven health risks. They quoted that the best way is to look at the following products with the following list: Good: # 2 High density polyethylene (HDPE), # 4 Low density polyethylene (LDPE), # 5 Polypropylene (PP) Bad: # 1 PET, # 3 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), # 6 Polystyrene (PS), # 7 Polycarbonate (Other)

PUNCH LINE INCLUDES ……

“you may prefer to avoid plastic altogether. Glass and ceramic containers are safe and microwavable. The other, more altruistic reason to avoid plastic is that you'd be saving the environment. After all, most of the plastic waste collected by recycling companies is actually buried or burned, often in third world countries”.

COOP AMERICA a magazine on sustainability It’s safe to say that plastics with the resin code 3-7 are not recyclable and should be avoided by consumers,” says Mark Murray, executive director of Californians Against Waste. No plastics are truly recyclable back into the same type of container they were before, due to the chemical properties of plastics. Plastics #1 and some #2 are “downcyclable” into second-order products, like plastic “lumber” for picnic tables and decks. With the exception of a few model programs like that of Stonyfield Farms and Recycline—which turns used #5 yogurt cups into Recycline toothbrushes and razors—there is almost no domestic market for plastics #3–7. When municipalities do accept the higher numbered plastics, it’s often because they are under pressure from the public to take them. In most cases, higher numbered plastics are bundled together and shipped overseas to developing countries—where they may be burned as boiler fuel (which generates toxic air pollution), or simply dumped into unregulated landfills.

BIRTH OF THE COUNCIL POLYSTYRENE PACKAGING COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES WAS ESTABLISHED IN MAY OF 1992. PRIMARY TASK IS TO SERVE AS THE OFFICIAL INDUSTRY CLEARING HOUSE FOR ALLEGED ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS THAT ARE NOT TRUE. TO HELP GOVERNMENT ADDRESS THE SOLID WASTE PROBLEM BY WAY OF RECYCLING.

Affiliation of the POLYSTYRENE PACKAGING COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES ASIAN MANUFACTURERS OF EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE (AMEPS) a unit of the INTERNATIONAL EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE ALLIANCE (INEPSA). EUROPEAN MANUFACTURERS OF EPS ALLIANCE OF FOAM PACKAGERS AND RECYCLERS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AMERICAN EPS RECYCING

LINKS: POLYSTYRENE PACKAGING COUNCIL OF USA-A UNIT OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL COUNCIL. EPS MOLDERS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL ANTI-LITTERING TASK FORCE. INTERNATIONAL STYRENE RESEARCH FORUM.

AMEPS membership KOREAN FOAM PS RECYCLING ASSOCIATION CHINESE TAIPEI EPS RECYCLING ASSOCIATION CHINA PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION CHINESE HK EPS RECYCLING ASSOCIATION POLYSTYRENE PACKAGING COUNCIL OF THE PHILS EXPANDED PS RECYCLING ASSN OF INDIA MALAYSIA EPS RECYCLING ASSN. THAI EPS RECYCLING ASSN. INDONESIA EPS RECYCLING ASSN. NEW ZEALAND EPS RECYCLING ASSN EPS RECYCLING ASSN OF AUSTRALIA (AFFILIATE OF PACIA) SINGAPORE EPS RECYCLING ASSN. VIETNAM EPS RECYCLING ASSN. JAPAN EPS RECYCLING ASSN.

RAW MATERIAL OF POLYSTYRENE Styrene Styrene is a certain organic chemical compound having the chemical formula C8H8. Its chemical structure is made up of a vinyl group bonded onto a benzene ring. This benzene ring makes styrene an aromatic compound. At room temperature and pressure, styrene is a clear, colorless liquid. Other names for styrene can be styrol, vinylbenzene, phenylethene, or phenylethylene.

WHAT IS POLYSTYRENE?

Styrene is used in the chemical industry as a monomer. This means many styrene molecules can bond together to make a larger molecule called polystyrene. Polystyrene is a kind of polymer often used as a plastic. This kind of chemical reaction is called polymerization.

Styrene can also bond with other kinds of monomers to make other kinds of polymers called copolymers. For one example, styrene has been mixed with another monomer called 1,3-butadiene to make a copolymer which is a kind of synthetic rubber. For another example, styrene is mixed with acrylonitrile and 1,3-butadiene to make a copolymer plastic called ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene).

MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF POLYSTYRENE Its molecular formula is C8H8, or structurally C6H5C2H3. It is synthesized by heating ethyl benzene (EB) with steam. The reversible reaction is C6H5C2H5 → C6H5C2H3 + H2

WHEN BURNED? ONLY CARBON AND HYDROGEN IS RELEASED. FLAMMABLE AND BURNS WITH AN ORANGE-YELLOW FLAME GIVING OFF SOOT (POLYETHYLENELIGHT YELLOW FLAME, WITH A BLUE TINGE AND NO SOOT)

PLASTIC PRODUCTS RECYCLING LOGOS SPI CODING SYSTEM

TYPES OF POLYSTYRENE

GENERAL PURPOSE FOAM POLYSTYRENE (PSP)

HIGH IMPACT EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE (EPS aka. STYROFOAM).

PRODUCT SAMPLES – GENERAL PURPOSE PS

FOAMED POLYSTYRENE REFERRED TO AS FOAMED PS, OR POLYSTYRENE PAPER (PSP) IN JAPAN. ITS 95% AIR AND 5% POLYSTYRENE. THE VOIDS FILLED WITH TRAPPED AIR MAKE POLYSTYRENE TO HAVE LOW THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY USES CFC BEFORE 1992, THEN SWITCH TO BUTENE. 100% RECYCLABLE.

HIGH IMPACT PS

EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE (EPS) ALSO KNOWN AS STYROFOAM, TRADE NAME OF DOW CHEMICAL. 98% AIR AND 2% POLYSTYRENE. HAS NEVER USE CFC. BLOWING AGENT IS NORMAL PENTANE. GOOD THERMAL INSULATION AND CUSHIONING PROPERTIES. 100% RECYCLABLE.

EPS FISH BOX

EPS USE IN CONSTRUCTION

ISSUES AND CONCERNS FOAM PS USES CFC AS BLOWING AGENT, IT DESTROY THE OZONE LAYER OF OUR STRATOSPHERE. PS IS NOT RECYCLABLE. PS IS THE CAUSE OF MOUNTING SOLID WASTE. PS IS BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND BAD FOR HEALTH DUE TO LEACHING OF CHEMICALS INTO FOOD. CLOG WATER WAYS. PLASTICS AND MICROWAVE

No. 1 ISSUE. POLYSTYRENE CONTAINS CFC

POLYSTYRENE AND THE CFC ISSUE. WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT CFC WAS USED DURING THE LATE 80’S, THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES PHASE OUT THE SAME IN 1988. IN THE PHILIPPINES. THE PS INDUSTRY ATTAINED A TOTAL PHASE OUT IN 1992, THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE UNDP. ALL PSP MANUFACTURER IS NOW USING BUTENE AS BLOWING AGENT. BUTENE IS ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY AND NOT AN OZONE DEPLETING SUBSTANCE.

POLYSTYRENE IS NOT RECYCLABLE STARTED OUT FROM A MAGAZINE OF A PROMINENT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, THAT RECYCLING IS A HOAX, IT IS ONLY BAILED AND EXPORTED TO ASIAN COUNTRIES. POLYSTYRENE POST CONSUMER WASTE HAS NO COMMERCIAL VALUE. ITS BULKY AND THE COST OF COLLECTION IS HIGH, USE AS A COMMON ESCAPE GOAT FOR THOSE THAT REFUSE TO SEGREGATE THEIR WASTE AT SOURCE.

PLASTICS AND MICROWAVES

Don't Use Plastic for Heating Foods in a Microwave Oven Because of Exposure to Dioxins-Unproven! & Fiction! According to facts and fiction .com The Truth: TruthOrFiction.com has not been able to find any research that supports the fear that food can become contaminated with dioxins either from plastic wrap or plastic in microwave ovens. According to the USA FDA: It's true that substances used to make plastics might leach into food. But..." [the levels of the plasticizer that might be consumed as a result of plastic film use are well below the levels showing no toxic effect..."

OTHER MYTHS THESE PRODUCTS ARE MADE WITH PETROLEUM, A NON-SUSTAINABLE, HEAVILY POLLUTING AND DISAPPEARING COMMODITY. TOTAL CONSUMPTION OF PLASTICS IN THE WHOLE WORLD USES ONLY AROUND 4% OF CRUDE OIL, CONSUMPTION FOR FUEL AND FOR HEATING ACCOUNT FOR THE LARGE MAJORITY. THE PRODUCT DOES NOT BIODEGRADE. LIKE ALL PLASTICS, POLYSTYRENE IS INERT AND NONBIODEGRADABLE, BUT THEY ARE 100% RECYCLABLE, IT MUST BE COLLECTED AND DIVERTED TO A RECYCLING FACILITY FOR PROCESS TREATMENT. LITTERING PROBLEM IS THE CONCERN OF ALL AND WE CANNOT FAULT INDUSTRY FOR PRODUCING A FUNCTIONAL PRODUCT.

POLYSTYRENE IS BAD FOR ENVIRONMENT AND BAD FOR HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL MYTHS: TOXIC CHEMICALS LEACH OUT INTO FOOD, AND THEY ARE THREATENING HUMAN HEALTH AND REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS. MOSTLY THEY REFER TO EFFECT ON THE HUMAN ENDOCRINE SYSTEM, WHICH IS AFFECTING THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM. CAUSED THE REDUCTION OF THE MALE RERODUCTIVE ORGAN ALLEGEDLY TRACED TO THE VOLATILES IN POLYSTYRENE CALLED DIMERS AND TRIMERS. DIMERS AND TRIMERS ARE PART OF OVER 1,000 SUSPECTED CHEMICALS THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE HUMAN ENDOCRINE SYSTEM.

AFTER THE TEST BY THIRD PARTY LABORATORIES IN NETHERLAND(TNO NUTRITION AND FOOD RESEARCH INSTITUTE), THEY FOUND NO EVIDENCE TO RELATE THEM TO THE LIST OF SUSPECTED DIRUPTERS, THEREFORE, THEY WERE REMOVED FROM THE LIST OF SUSPECTED ENDOCRINE DISRUPTERS.

POLYSTYRENE RECYCLING PROGRAM PPCP SET UP THEIR ASSOCIATION IN 1992 TO PROMOTE THE RECYCLING OF POLYSTYRENE. PPCP SET UP THEIR FIRST RECYCLING FACTORY IN 1995, IN STA. MARIA BULACAN FOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF RECYCLING. EXECUTED MOA WITH AYALA FOUNDATION UNDER THE METROPOLITAN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WITH THE WORLD BANK AND DENR IN 1996. OBTAINED A GRANT TO LAUNCH THE FPS RECYCLING PROGRAM IN THE WHOLE OF AYALA COMMERCIAL CENTER. OPERATED THE COLLECTION AND RECYCLING PROGRAM UNTIL THE EARLY 2004.

A TYPICAL MEETING OF PPCP

POLYSTYRENE RECYCLING PROGRAM 2004, TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN THE RECYCLING PLANT DUE TO OPERATIONAL PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIGH COST OF COLLECTION. UNSEGREGATED WASTE FROM SOURCE RESULTED TO LOW YIELD OF RECYCLABLES. LEVY AND SUBSIDIES CAUSED HEAVY BURDEN ON MEMBERS. 2005, OPERATED A NEW SCHEME WITH RECYCLERS FROM VALENZUELA AND FROM THE CALABARZON AREA AND THE CONTACT OF NEW JUNK SHOP GROUP.

POLYSTYRENE RECYCLING PROGRAM INITIATED A DIRECT CONTACT WITH A NEW JUNK SHOP GROUP FROM TONDO AND QUEZON CITY. THE MANILA ECO-AIDE, POLY TRADER, POLO TRUCKING AND ECO-GREENCOLLECTORS OF FASTFOODS QUICK SERVICE RESTUARANTS. ORGANIZED CONSORTIUM OF WASTE HAULERS. PSP IS DELIVERED TO THE VALENZUELA PSP RECYCLING PLANT,

FLOW CHART OF RECYCLING PS

XPS EXTRUSION LINE IN CHINA

POLYSTYRENE USE IN FASHION ARTS

EPS INGOT RECYCLING SYSTEM

EPS RECYCLED REFILLS FOR BEAN BAGS

FOAM PS MELTING OVEN

MOULDED PSP LUMP

The Casted Samples

POLYSTYRENE IS ALLEGED TO BE THE SOURCE OF MOUNTING SOLIDWASTE

POLYSTYRENE IS THE SOURCE OF MOUNTING SOLID WASTE OTHERS 9%

KITCHEN WASTE 42%

PAPER 19%

PLASTICS 17%

METAL 6% GARDEN WASTE 7%

PAPER PLASTICS METAL GARDEN WASTE KITCHEN WASTE OTHERS

POLYSTYRENE CONSUMPTION AND RECYCLING CHART

3000 2500

Consumption Total consumption in MM % of recycling

2000 1500 1000

Volum recycled

500 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

POLYSTYRENE IN SOLID WASTE (MM) METRO MANILA DAILY SOLID WASTE IS 6,000MT FPS DAILY CONSUMPTION IS 8.3MT ASSUMING NO RECYCLING IS IN PLACE AND EVERY THING IS DISPOSED OF IN METRO MANILA LANDFILL. FPS IN MSW IS .14% OR ABOUT 1/7 OF 1%. PS IN SOLIDWASTE IS THEREFORE NOT AN ISSUE.

OTHER MYTHS (NO. 7 ISSUE) CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF POLYSTYRENE WILL BE DUMPED IN THE ENVIRONMENT.CLOG WATER SYSTEM AND ANIMAL DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS.

EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE RECYCLING(EPS)

EPS CAN BE COMPRESSED BY A MACHINE

STATIONARY MELTING SYSTEM ON SITE

MELTED IN AN EXTRUDER

ON SITE RECYCLING (MOBILE RECYCLING)

EPS RECYCLING

CURRENT RECYCLING FACILITY FOR EPS MELTED INGOTS READY FOR EXPORT

Minister of the Environment of Japan visiting EPS recycling booth

INDUSTRY PRO-ACTIVE PROGRAMS. SETTING UP RECYCLING OPERATION AND A FOCUS GROUP TO DELIBERATE ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE OF THE INDUSTRY. CONTINUOUS INFORMATION CAMPAIGNE. PERMANENT SECRETARIAT FOR ADVOCACY. INVOLVE IN THE WORKS OF THE INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATED ORG. CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIELD OF R AND D WITH THE DOST.

PPCP INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS

25 signatories to the International Recycling Agreement

ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY POLYSTYRENE IS 100% RECYCLABLE. IT IS CHEAP AND VERY SANITARY. IT DOES NOT LEACH TO AFFECT GROUND WATER BECAUSE IT IS INERT, IT IS NOT THE BULK OF SOLID WASTE. IT DOES NOT PRODUCES ANY SECONDARY POLLUTION DURING THE RECYCLING PROCESS, SOME COUNTRIES WHO INITIALLY REGULATED THE USE HAS DECIDED TO CONTINUE USING PS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PROMOTING RECYCLING.

BANS WERE RECONSIDERED China is planning to recall, Order No. 6, who originally calls for the ban on “white pollutants” Taiwan did not ban PS, they merely regulate its use. Alleged California ban is still for consideration after the American Chemical Council made a strong lobby. Otherwise, there is NO ban on PS foam anywhere in the world.

LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS AS A SCIENTIFIC METHOD TO EVALUATE ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE FOR FOAM PS.

FIRST PUBLICATION 1990. LATEST PUBLICATION MARCH 2006 http://www.Polystyrene.org. http://www.polystyrene.org/news/2006_lifecyc le.html

LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS ON EPS PACKAGING

CASE STUDY:PACKAGING SYSTEM FOR TV SETS SEPTEMBER 2001 DONE BY PRICE WATER HOUSE COOPER of Paris, France.

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