Americans throw away an estimated 25 billion polystyrene cups every year , or about 82 cups per person. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) can be harmful to people and the environment:
  1. EPS does not biodegrade. It can break up into small, even minuscule pieces, but it never goes away. The smaller it gets, the harder it is to clean up.
  2. EPS is made of fossil fuels and synthetic chemicals which may leach if they come in contact with hot, greasy or acidic food.
  3. Animals, turtles, and fish sometimes mistake EPS for food, and that can hurt and potentially kill them.
  4. EPS is difficult to recycle. For the most part community recycling centers do not accept throwaway foam food containers.