Yesterday, the Environment and Plastics Industry Council (EPIC) reported that the City of Toronto has backed off its promise to collect polystyrene in blue bins, which could "effectively destroy the program for all of Ontario."Polystyrene - which makes up the bulk of our food and protective packaging - can be remanufactured into products like picture frames as well as fire-proofing materials, and EPIC says 20,000 tonnes of the material will now end up in landfills.
EPIC's news release does not cover the reasons why Toronto is re-thinking the program...but then the agency is simply an arm of the plastics industry.
They even have a "Polystyrene Myths and Facts" PDF available on their site, with tidbits like:
Myth: Polystyrene does not biodegrade.
Fact: Polystyrene has been designed specifically to be an inert material that does not break down in a landfill and release harmful substances, such as greenhouse gases.
Sorry, then how it that a myth?
So, while it would be fabulous to be able to recycle our current heap of packaging, shouldn't EPIC be looking at ways to reduce and/or eliminate it? But that would put an end to their council...
