Are Styrofoam cups harmful to the ozone layer?
No. The use of ozone depleting chemicals in Styrofoam products was outlawed in 1991. Can you recycle Styrofoam? Yes. Styrofoam is recyclable and Styrofoam recycling programs are expanding. However, wax-coated paper cups are not recyclable. Are paper cups better for the environment? No. The paper cup is substantially more resource-depleting to manufacture. Compared to the foam cups we use, the typical wax-coated paper cup requires 6 times the raw materials, 33 times the chemicals, and wastes 56 times the water.
