Getting rid of polystyrene

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Getting rid of polystyrene
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cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 05 3:50 pm Post subject:
Oh, it's absolutely a good material to use from an economic perspective. It's insane from an environmental one, though

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 05 3:56 pm Post subject:
No dispute whatever on that, cab.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 05 4:00 pm Post subject:
Hand in the air, I've burnt polystyrene recently. As part of the insane amount of packaging provided with new kitchen appliances (but they are A rated) Oh, and they are frankly bugger all use at protection, as proved by the smashed dishwasher I returned.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 05 4:02 pm Post subject: Re: Getting rid of polystyrene

stacey_guthrie wrote:

We get all the out of date fruit from the local fruit shop every saturday to fed to the pigs. Lately they'e been sending it out in polystyrene boxes about 24in x 24 in. We now have about 30 of these boxes and no clue as to how to dispose of them properly and responsibly. I suspect that the shop is giving them to us so they don't have to deal with them themselves. They've got Cornwall Brocolli Co on the outside of them so we can't even pass them on to someone to be re-used.
What to do?

Grow mushrooms? They're excellent to grow mushrooms in, there are plenty of places to buy spawn from.

ele

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 814
Location: Derby

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 05 4:08 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

Hand in the air, I've burnt polystyrene recently. As part of the insane amount of packaging provided with new kitchen appliances (but they are A rated)

Oh, and they are frankly bugger all use at protection, as proved by the smashed dishwasher I returned.

I had one of those (a smashed dishwasher) it looked fine when I got it delivered, stuck it on, it started leaking, engineer came saw it had a huge great crack through it!

I hope people don't get into burning polystyrene in their gardens... it's not going to be very good air pollution wise

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 05 5:57 pm Post subject:
Some good ideas here, thanks. I'll look at them properly when I get back from the holloween disco I have to take the kids to. Pity me please

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 05 6:44 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

Oh, and they are frankly bugger all use at protection, as proved by the smashed dishwasher I returned.

Expanded polystyrene doesn't guarantee protection... but neither is it useless...
Many "white goods" are put in a frame of polystyrene perhaps an inch thick. That serves to space the items in storage, protect the corners, and maybe felp to protect the external finish from scratches - but I'd agree that it would take much more to protect a 30kg dishwasher, let alone a 100kg washer/dryer, if it were dropped off the back of a lorry.
Blame the clowns that played football with it, not the packaging.
Or what thickness of polystyrene do you think should be used? And left for you to dispose of environmentally sensitively?
Or have you an alternative that is proof against a "sufficiently talented fool"?

I was actually thinking more of fragile, light and high value electronic items - from laptops to dvd recorders - where quite small amounts of shaped polystyrene *inside* a recyclable cardboard box, seems to provide remarkable protection from the worst that delivery services can offer.

seantlee

Joined: 12 Oct 2013
Posts: 1

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 13 10:31 am Post subject:
in the Uk there is a company in Wollaston, near Wellingborough NN29 postcode, called PSL Recycling, although they have just changed their name to something like ' International Plastic Recycling ' or something similar. They recycle all types of polystyrene, plastic, old toys etc just call them 07815 663789, 01604 641257 ask for Shaun Pinner. They may not charge you for disposal..

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 13 11:42 am Post subject:

ele wrote:

Fiddlesticks Julie wrote:

can you make holes in the bottom and make in to seed/plant trays? Or I've used polystrene broken up in to bits as crocks in the bottom of plant containers.

I tried that once, cos I saw it on a garden programme but it was a bit of a disaster when I wanted to compost the spent potting compost, I spent ages picking out little bits of polystyrene which had disintegrated into the compost over the season

how did you get around this problem?

Do you need to?
I believe that it is biologically inert, so doesn't do any harm if you leave it in there.

mark

Joined: 14 Jul 2005
Posts: 2191
Location: Leeds

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 13 10:12 pm Post subject:

Polystyrene need high temperaturs to dispose of by burning. If burn t at high temperatures it has no nasty by products - burnt at lower temperatures it is an eco -nightmare Home incineration or disposing in average council rubbish incineration temperature is irresponsible and environmental vandalism!

Its a great insulator so try reuse if you can. Crumble it up for bean bags and furniture. Line your cold frames make nice warm plant trays for winter or autumn/spring crops in greenhouse.

Re-use it for packing parcels you send out !

If you need to reduce its bulk I'd melt it rather than burn it.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 13 10:30 pm Post subject:

mark wrote:

If you need to reduce its bulk I'd melt it rather than burn it.

Care to tell us the appropriate range of temperatures?

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15997

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 13 3:18 pm Post subject:
I remember when it first came in. It was amazing because of its high thermal insulation. Very popular for ceiling tiles at one time, until it was found they dripped molten plastic on firemen during a fire.

mark

Joined: 14 Jul 2005
Posts: 2191
Location: Leeds

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 13 3:30 pm Post subject:

Hairyloon wrote:

mark wrote:

If you need to reduce its bulk I'd melt it rather than burn it.

Care to tell us the appropriate range of temperatures?

I think it will melt at about 100 degrees C but google for it? - but not sure about what temp it gives off gasses..

wirefly

Joined: 29 Jun 2014
Posts: 1

Posted: Sun Jun 29, 14 7:16 am Post subject:
Hi there? Are you still needing to get rid of some of your polystyrene boxes? I think I have a use for them depending on the dimensions and could take some of them off your hands depending on your location.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Sun Jun 29, 14 7:19 am Post subject:
Morning wirefly. Some of these posts are several years old. What plans do you have for using polystyrene? Broken up they can bulk out planters while not making them too heavy.

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