The ubiquitous polystyrene coffee cup epitomizes the battle between technology and convenience on the one hand, and sustainability, environmental responsibility and human health on the other.

Polystyrene is a polymer made from the compound styrene, which is a petroleum product. Polystyrene foam cups and food containers are inexpensive to manufacture and transport, relatively effective at keeping food hot (or cold), and lightweight.

But the environmental impacts of polystyrene foam are significant: a polystyrene container may eventually disintegrate into tiny pieces, but it will never become actual food for bacteria or fungi, our environmental decomposers. Discarded polystyrene cups and food containers stay in the environment forever.

The potential human health impacts are also of concern. Styrene is considered a possible human carcinogen by the EPA, and many studies have associated exposure to styrene with reproductive problems and cancer. Research shows that styrene can readily leach from containers into food, such as from cups into hot liquids and alcohol.

Several cities, including San Francisco, have banned polystyrene food containers entirely and across the country, schools and restaurants are using more environment and health-friendly bio-based or recycled alternatives.

Resources:

The New York State Office of General Services recently announced that its food service provider had agreed to replace all polystyrene food containers with containers made from biodegradable materials. Read the press release.

Californians Against Waste (CAW) has a section of their extensive web site dedicated to local initiatives to ban polystyrene, and a nice online brochure about unrecyclable takeout food containers.