Did you know that 30% of landfills around the globe have Styrofoam products thrown in them? Unless some very specific solvents are used for dissolving it, the material will practically last until the end of time. It is toxic in nature and even if it is recycled, there is a risk that prevails regarding its disposal. What should you do in this case? Re-use it as much as possible.
Re-suing Styrofoam doesn’t require any specific equipment for processing it. All you need is a little creativity, basic crafting skills and you would be able to use it in various ways. But before you start reusing Styrofoam, you need to take heed to some precautions.
These include
- Avoid purchasing new Styrofoam materials because this would only add to the mess that has been created by previous products.
- For Styrofoam pellets that come in packaging boxes, make sure you keep them safe and use it for further packages that you send. This will not only help you to save on costs but it would also reduce the harm on the environment that is generally caused by uncontrolled disposal of such toxic material.
- Try to find the chemist in you. Do some research and find the right solvents that will dissolve and break down the Styrofoam. This liquid serves as an excellent glue meant for household use.
Ways to Re-Use Styrofoam
There are countless ways to re-use Styrofoam and you don’t need anything special to go about it. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started. I am sure that these suggestions will give you adequate directions so that you are able to come up with your own ideas.
- Whenever you come across used Styrofoam products that you do not know how to reuse, just keep them together in a sack or cardboard box. When it gets filled completely, you can take it to the nearest recycling center or share it with some creative friends of yours who can put it to good use.
- By dissolving the Styrofoam in compatible solvents (Pure orange rind oil, d-Limonene, etc.), you can breakdown the materials and create a glue that can be used for household purposes. Just take care to use a paintbrush for applying the glue to the surface, lest you should get it all over your hands.
As a safety measure, use the solvents with care and wear gloves so that not even a drop of the liquid comes in contacts with your skin. It is important any such procedure involves the participation of an elder person. The risk associated with the breaking down of Styrofoam is capable of causing harm to the person.
- An entire block of Styrofoam can be used as a base for cakes or candies. It is easy to make and you can make it colourful by applying colours of your choice to the base.
- You can create miniature art (such as Lego figures and jigsaw pieces) with used Styrofoam. This will also turn out to be an interesting hobby and will serve as a good use of free time.
These are just basic directions with which you can come up with your own ideas. If you read carefully, you will realize that all of these suggestions are based on the way Styrofoam is handled. By understanding the ways in which you can work with this material, you can easily apply it for creating unique and out-of-the-box solutions with it.
Don’t let landfills get blocked with harmful materials such as Styrofoam. Re-using such materials is fun and also a great way to contribute towards environmental conservation. So if you have a cool idea about reusing Styrofoam, then do share it in the comments section below. After all, your idea could inspire others.
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