If we’ve known for decades that styrofoam is bad, why do we continue to use it? Why haven’t governments created any sort of legislation or regulations that prohibit the manufacturing and use of styrofoam?

Question

I work in retail and I see tons and tons of styrofoam in packaging every damn day. I’ve heard it can be recycled, but it’s depressing to just see it go down the trash chute.

In: 2

Answer 1

As is often the answer with environmental issues, money.

Styrofoam is cheap and there is no political will to ban it because doing so will make things slightly more expensive. The health of the planet is secondary to higher stock prices to the people who make these decisions.