THE POLYSTYRENE STORY

PRESENTATION OF
CONCERNS AND FACTS OF
THE INDUSTRY
 How it all started

http://ecocorner.blogspot.com/

Eco Corner
Honoring the Creator by honoring creation.
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
(POLYETHYLENE-
LIGHT 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 NON-
BIODEGRADABLE, 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-GREEN-
COLLECTORS 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% PAPER
19%

PAPER
PLASTICS
METAL
PLASTICS GARDEN WASTE
17% KITCHEN WASTE
KITCHEN WASTE
42% OTHERS

METAL
6%
GARDEN WASTE
7%
POLYSTYRENE CONSUMPTION AND RECYCLING
CHART

3000

2500
Consumption
2000 Total
consumption in
1500 MM
% of recycling
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.
 THANK YOU

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