Polystyrene

I wonder how many people are aware that Baltimore has a polystyrene recycling center at 28th and Sisson streets. I live in Baltimore County and drive in to recycle my Styrofoam or other polystyrene products. I would be nice if polystyrene had never been invented, but I'm afraid it's here to stay. And stay it will - nearly for infinity ("Container ban put off," June 18)! Baltimore at one time had a great anti-littering campaign, "Shoot one in the Basket. " That would be a wastebasket.

I wonder how many people are aware that Baltimore has a polystyrene recycling center at 28th and Sisson streets. I live in Baltimore County and drive in to recycle my Styrofoam or other polystyrene products. I would be nice if polystyrene had never been invented, but I'm afraid it's here to stay. And stay it will - nearly for infinity ("Container ban put off," June 18)! Baltimore at one time had a great anti-littering campaign, "Shoot one in the Basket. " That would be a wastebasket.

The Baltimore City Council postponed action Monday on a bill that would have banned the use of foam cups and containers for carryout food and drinks after several members withdrew their support. Councilman James B. Kraft, the bill's chief sponsor, said he is still hopeful Baltimore can become the first major East Coast city to adopt such a ban. Kraft, who represents Canton, Little Italy and Fells Point, said some council members expressed concern that the city needs to work toward a cultural shift that changes individual behaviors on littering, rather than a government edict.

The Baltimore City Council postponed action Monday on a bill that would have banned the use of foam cups and containers for carryout food and drinks after several members withdrew their support. Councilman James B. Kraft, the bill's chief sponsor, said he is still hopeful Baltimore can become the first major East Coast city to adopt such a ban. Kraft, who represents Canton, Little Italy and Fells Point, said some council members expressed concern that the city needs to work toward a cultural shift that changes individual behaviors on littering, rather than a government edict.

A Jessup factory has started producing a new kind of whit packaging "peanut" that dissolves in water, can be composted into fertilizer and can even be eaten, though the makers don't recommend them as a dining experience.Art Buckingham, Maryland branch manager for American Excelsior Co., said yesterday that the corn starch-based "Eco-Foam" pellets are an alternative to standard white polystyrene foam "peanuts." The company, based in Arlington, Texas, is one of the nation's biggest producers of plastic packaging materials, he said.

Say happy anniversary to that snow-white cup that holds your morning coffee.This year marks 50 years of consumer use of polystyrene foam -- Styrofoam.It's hard to believe that people once made do without foam egg cartons, coolers, craft balls, picnic cups ...Styrofoam was invented in 1941, when World War II was raging and American scientists were scurrying to develop synthetic rubber. A Dow Chemical engineer, Ray McIntire, tried foaming plastic polystyrene, and got a rigid material instead of a rubbery one. But it was also light and buoyant.

Milk cartons are about the only thing county school officials have not found a way to reuse in an aggressive recycling plan announced Monday after months of prodding by students.Lunch-time protests at South River Senior urging the board to get rid of polystyrene lunch trays and presentations by elementary and high school students at board meetings last school year did not fall on deaf ears.Monday night, school board members listened to a self-supporting recycling plan that Assistant Supervisor of Operations Walter F. George said is the most aggressive in the state.

PolystyreneEditor: This is in response to Pat Williams' Dec. 4 letter regarding the health hazards of polystyrene foam. While styrene has been produced synthetically since 1930, it is also a naturally occurring substance that has been known since the time of the ancient Greeks.It is present in small amounts in hundreds of foodstuffs -- milk, fruit, vegetables, nuts, coffee, beer and many other foods eaten every day. In addition, styrene is regulated by the FDA as a flavoring agent in certain foods.

The greening of the Golden Arches has reached Baltimore.Eight local McDonald's restaurants have quietly begun recycling their polystyrene foam food containers, and plans are to expand the effort to all 55 fast-food outlets in the metropolitan area."

Environmental and industry officials say that McDonald's Corp.'s recent decision to switch from plastic or foam packaging to paper for most items will bring pressure on other fast-food chains to follow suit."

Say happy anniversary to that snow-white cup that holds your morning coffee.This year marks 50 years of consumer use of polystyrene foam -- Styrofoam.It's hard to believe that people once made do without foam egg cartons, coolers, craft balls, picnic cups ...Styrofoam was invented in 1941, when World War II was raging and American scientists were scurrying to develop synthetic rubber. A Dow Chemical engineer, Ray McIntire, tried foaming plastic polystyrene, and got a rigid material instead of a rubbery one. But it was also light and buoyant.

Sweetheart Cup Co., a major Baltimore County employer that said last summer it was considering a public stock offering and merger offers, will remain a privately held, independent company.Daniel M. Carson, Sweetheart's vice president and general counsel, said the company had held "substantive discussions" with prospective investors whom he would not identify. But he said Sweetheart's board of directors decided last month against a sale or public stock offering."With continuing success in the execution of our business plan, our ownership expects the value of our company to increase and that Sweetheart will strengthen its leadership position in the industry," the company said in a statement issued in response to questions about its future.

A Jessup factory has started producing a new kind of whit packaging "peanut" that dissolves in water, can be composted into fertilizer and can even be eaten, though the makers don't recommend them as a dining experience.Art Buckingham, Maryland branch manager for American Excelsior Co., said yesterday that the corn starch-based "Eco-Foam" pellets are an alternative to standard white polystyrene foam "peanuts." The company, based in Arlington, Texas, is one of the nation's biggest producers of plastic packaging materials, he said.

PolystyreneEditor: This is in response to Pat Williams' Dec. 4 letter regarding the health hazards of polystyrene foam. While styrene has been produced synthetically since 1930, it is also a naturally occurring substance that has been known since the time of the ancient Greeks.It is present in small amounts in hundreds of foodstuffs -- milk, fruit, vegetables, nuts, coffee, beer and many other foods eaten every day. In addition, styrene is regulated by the FDA as a flavoring agent in certain foods.

Environmental and industry officials say that McDonald's Corp.'s recent decision to switch from plastic or foam packaging to paper for most items will bring pressure on other fast-food chains to follow suit."

Milk cartons are about the only thing county school officials have not found a way to reuse in an aggressive recycling plan announced Monday after months of prodding by students.Lunch-time protests at South River Senior urging the board to get rid of polystyrene lunch trays and presentations by elementary and high school students at board meetings last school year did not fall on deaf ears.Monday night, school board members listened to a self-supporting recycling plan that Assistant Supervisor of Operations Walter F. George said is the most aggressive in the state.

Sweetheart Cup Co., a major Baltimore County employer that said last summer it was considering a public stock offering and merger offers, will remain a privately held, independent company.Daniel M. Carson, Sweetheart's vice president and general counsel, said the company had held "substantive discussions" with prospective investors whom he would not identify. But he said Sweetheart's board of directors decided last month against a sale or public stock offering."With continuing success in the execution of our business plan, our ownership expects the value of our company to increase and that Sweetheart will strengthen its leadership position in the industry," the company said in a statement issued in response to questions about its future.

Which would you rather have -- a warm hamburger or the ozone layer? It's a silly question, but millions of people unwittingly make that decision every day because polystyrene foam products (commonly referred to as "Styrofoam") used in some fast-food restaurants are made with an ozone-depleting chemical called HCFC-22.Wait a minute. Haven't we heard that polystyrene foam food containers are no longer made with chemicals that destroy the ozone layer? Yes, but some businesses haven't been entirely honest with us.An example: Earlier this year, McDonald's claimed it wasn't using foam products made with ozone-depleting CFCs anymore.

The greening of the Golden Arches has reached Baltimore.Eight local McDonald's restaurants have quietly begun recycling their polystyrene foam food containers, and plans are to expand the effort to all 55 fast-food outlets in the metropolitan area."