Recycling found to be the greenest way to dispose of polluting polystyrene packaging.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS), a common packaging material in Malaysia that usually gets thrown away, was closely examined to see how it affects the environment. The researchers analyzed the entire life cycle of EPS, from production to disposal, under different scenarios. Using special software, they looked at how EPS impacts the Earth's warming, acid levels, nutrient balance, and ozone layer. The results showed that making EPS has the biggest environmental impact, especially contributing to global warming. Interestingly, recycling EPS seems to be the most eco-friendly way to deal with it. This suggests that recycling could be a better option for managing EPS waste in Malaysia.