What products can you make from polystyrene foam scraps?

While polystyrene foam is often considered a difficult material to recycle, there are several ways to repurpose scraps into useful products:

Crafts and DIY:

* Decorative items: You can cut and shape the foam into decorative elements for crafts, like flower arrangements, model building, or even creating faux snow for winter scenes.

* Insulation: Create custom insulation for small projects like boxes, planters, or even a mini greenhouse.

* Packaging: Use scraps to cushion fragile items when packing for shipping or moving.

* Soundproofing: Cut foam into shapes and attach them to walls or ceilings to help absorb sound.

* Molds: Use foam scraps to create molds for casting projects with plaster, resin, or other materials.

Other uses:

* Bird feeders: Create simple feeders by cutting out shapes and attaching them to a platform.

* Seed starter trays: Use foam scraps to create small trays for starting seeds.

* Floating devices: Cut the foam into shapes for use as floats for fishing, boat building, or even creating simple toys.

Important Notes:

* Toxicity: Polystyrene foam is often treated with flame retardants, which can release harmful chemicals when burned. Avoid burning the foam.

* Environmental impact: While repurposing is great, it's important to remember that polystyrene foam is not biodegradable. Reducing your use of this material is always the best option.

Recycling:

* Specialized recycling facilities: Some cities and regions have specialized facilities that can recycle polystyrene foam. Check with your local recycling program for details.

Remember to clean the foam scraps before using them for crafts or other projects to ensure they are free of contaminants.