Reducing EPS
in Delaware, OH
My Project
Hello, my name is Rowan Hering. I am a Life Scout from Delaware Troop 7318, and I am working on an Eagle Scout Service Project.
My project is focused on expanded polystyrene (EPS), a pollutant most know as Styrofoam. EPS is a plastic, but 90% of it is actually made up of air. This makes it perfect for its job in society, insulation. We use it in food packaging, medical containment, roofing, and more. Unfortunately, this very convenient material also plays a role in causing harm to our planet. EPS never goes away. It will outlive all of us, this thing of our creation. It is littered across the Earth.
You may wonder, well why don't we recycle it? Because recycling works much like the rest of the economy, without the necessary demand for a good or service it can't be done. But that can change.
In order to recycle EPS, the recycling plant would need an EPS densifier. All we have to do is show that Delaware wants to recycle EPS and it's possible to get the ball rolling and recycle EPS in our community. Take for example Hilliard, who just recently purchased an EPS densifier and ran a collection drive. It can be done. More information on that can be found at this link.
For my project, I am planning an EPS collection drive for Delaware, Ohio. If you have any EPS left over from the holidays and other occasions where it showed up, please save it and bring it. Then it will be driven to Hilliard to be recycled. More information about the where and when is at the bottom of this page.
Click on the images below to learn more about EPS!
Forest Effects
EPS will break down into small pieces and remain in forests for hundreds of years. It can be easily blown to other locations by the wind. These small pieces of EPS are ingested by animals and can accumulate in their bodies. Eventually, animals will die, and a large number of deaths can disrupt the ecosystem.
Ocean Effects
Since EPS is single-use and non-biodegradable, it ends up either in oceans or on beaches. EPS has a buoyancy that allows it to float/travel easily. 80% of ocean pollution comes from the land, and EPS plays a big part in being a pollutant. There are more than 75,000 lbs of pollution floating into the water every minute.
So, what steps can be taken to help?
Reduce
You can choose the option without EPS. For example, when choosing a restaurant or fast food place to eat at think about the one that doesn't use containers made of EPS. Because these containers become contaminated by food and oil, they can never be recycled.
Reuse
Find ways to reuse EPS products so that more can be done with them rather than a one-time use. For example, reusing EPS coolers received in the mail.
Recycle
Find a facility that has the ability to recycle EPS and take your EPS products there. For example, participate in this drive!
About the drive...
When: March 5, 2022, 10 am-12 pm (THIS SATURDAY!!!)
Where: Rutherford B. Hayes High School Student Parking lot (by the football stadium)
EPS Recycling Requirements:
EPS must be clean
Food containers cannot be recycled because they have been contaminated
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me and my dad, Tom Hering, at mrheringpacers@gmail.com