OCR Text |
Show Standard-Examiner HORIZONS Sunday, May 24, 1992 7E Even though recyclable, polystyrene is not best Option ‘Last week, we covered a few of ' the environmental hazards of polyStyrene foam — but wedidn’t dis‘cuss whetherit’s recyclable. ' +. This issue is getting a lot of pub‘licity: from manufacturers, who EARTHWORKS John Javna ‘present their products as “ecofriendly.” The Polystyrene Packag- ‘ing Council, for example, refers to Polystyrene foam as “100 percent recyclable.” Butis it? Here are a few facts to consider: Technically, polystyrene foam is recyclable. It can be transformed into small plastic pellets and used to manufacture products like combs, office supplies and videocassette cases. Industry sourcestell us that this is being done in some .parts.of the country. United Press Syndicate Unfortunately, while this process keeps material out of landfills (at least temporarily), it isn’t genuine recycling. In a genuine recycling loop, materials are used to make more of the same product. For example, recycled glass bottles are used to make moreglass bottles; aluminum cans are turned into more aluminum cans. A real recycling “loop” saves natural resources, energy, reduces air pollution, etc. It turns a disposable product into a reusable one. But although a few items are being made from recycled foam, most of needed both as a raw matenal and as a source of energy. And polystyrene is currently manufactured using five of the six most hazardous chemicals in America, according to the recycling done by the polystyrene industry is not a genuine loop. Disposable polystyrene cups, for the EPA’s 1990list. example,are still single-use products — when you recycle one, the of polystyrene foam is not as easy material is not used to make more cups. While the secondary products being made from recycted polystyrene maybeuseful, they don’t cut down on the resources needed or pollution produced to make more cups. So every time someone needs a polystyrene lunch tray, cup or plate, a new polystyrene product must be produced from scratch. To create virgin polystyrene, oil is Moreover, large-scale recycling washed (a time-consuming process) before they can be recycled, or stored unwashed until they’re picked up — which can create a health hazard. Some restaurants that switch to polystyrene because they’re told it is recyclable find that it’s easier to throw the material as manufacturers makeit outto be: = Much of the polystyrene foam away. To top it off, according to the containers. People bring these containers to their homes, to work, to parks, etc. — places where recycling polystyrene is not available or practical — and it must be thrown than 5 percent of the polystyrene foam used in the United States is Americans useis for take-out food away. Polystyrene Packaging Council, less recycled in any form. So in a way, whether polystyrene foam is recyclable is not an issue — since almost all of it is going to end up w According to one local food service, food containers recycled by either in our landfills or scattered rias either have to be cleaned or The polystyrene industryis tak- customers at restaurants or cafete- around cities, countryside and oceans. ing some steps to reduce the environmental damage ofits products As one industry spokesperson explained to us: “If you are going to use polystyrene, you should recycle it.” And weagree. But the bottom line is still the same — we’re better off if we don’t use disposablepolystyrene food containers at all. The best thing you can do for the Earth 1s to have your company, school or organization investigate reusable trays and food containers. Ifthat’s not a viable option, you'restill better off using recycled or recyclable Paper. If you have questions or comments about our environment and what you can do to help, ] write to EarthWorks, P.O. Box 419149 Kansas City, MO 64141 ‘Codestell each phone system what to expect By MARCIA BARINAGA Knight-Ridder Newspapers Q..Our telephone numbersare all a standard length, but phone numbers in Europe varyin length, even within the same country or city. How ‘do the telephone systems know'when you are done dialing the number? A.-European phone systems stop accepting digits when a unique combination has been reached. In Our system, on the other hand, every number is a uniform length, so the system doesn’t even begin to process the call until the full set of digits: has been dialed. In ‘both systems, codes at the beginnings of phone numberstell the SCIENCE system what to expect. For example, in the U.S., dialing | signals that a 10-digit long distance number will follow, and 011 prepares the system for an international number of uncertain length, according to Garry Benoit of the North American Numbering Plan at Bellcore. In Europe the system is similar — codes prepare the system for a local, long distance or international number. Beyond that, the systems differ. as you dial, according to Robert Keevers, a Bellcore specialist in with 82-13-13, like 82-13-133, or switching requirements. Once you they would never get anycalls. complete a city code, for example, the call is sent to a switching station in that city, where it continues to be processed until a unique number is réached. Then the receiving station sends back an “address-complete” signal, telling the phone system to stop accepting dig- The same principle works with country and city codes. In Spain, for example, Madrid has a city code of !, so dialing 1 will get your call switched to Madrid. But Seville has a code of 54, and Granada has 58, so when you dial 5, the system must wait for the second digit before it switches your call to the right city. its. Say you are calling a local num- ber such as 82-13-13. Someoneelse may have the number 82-13-188, so the phone system doesn’t know how many digits to expect until you have dialed the whole number. In Europe, the numberis processed ~But you can be sure no one will '73-'87 Chev or GMC have a 7-digit number beginning Readers can submit questions about science and medicineto Science Questions, San Jose Mercury News, 750 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95190. PowerSliding Back Glass Suto (limited to stock on hand) reg. $249.95 now $149 126 N. Main LAYTON Free pickup and delivery! Approved - Most Insurance Companies & ational Network Companies. 946-4125 SUPPORT. mt ae esCel} (else aC)eee Call 399-5232: Breakup of the Soviet Union leaves U.S. third in population Scripps. Howard NewsService The breakupof the former Soviet Union has made the United States the third most populous nation in the world, new figures from the Population Reference Bureau show. Until last year, the United States ranked fourth behind China, India and the combined population of the 15 Soviet republics. After the breakup of the USSR, the Russian republic became thelargest state of the old Soviet Union and the world’s sixth most populous country, with 149 million people. The current top 10 are: China, 1.165 billion people; India, 882 million; the United States, 255 milhon; Indonesia. 184 million; Brazil, Sale Prices Effective Through Sunday, May31 fatten Day 150 million; Russia, 149 million; Japan, 124 million; Pakistan, 121 million; Bangladesh, 111 million, and Nigeria, 90 million. In all, the world now has5.42 billion people, an increase of 420 million in the last five years. The world population is still expanding at a rapid pace, the Popu- lation Bureau warned. If the current rate of increase continues, in the year 2010 the world will have 7 billion people, including 3.6 billion Asians. Every minute of the day, 269 babies are born and 96 people die worldwide. Average life expectancy has reached 67 years for women and 63 for men. We Will Be Open Monday, Memorial Day From 10 Until 5 | EVERY YARD $999.8] 499 °$4.199-54999 | y Ladies a Py aN Sweaters : a “A Save ona variety of mW er. Our Regular Gur Regular Price $12-$22 Price $14-325 So 45" Selected Dress Prints * 60" Broadcloth e 45" Printed Handkerchief Linen-Looks $799.8] 1 99 $4199 Junior Knit Tops Junior Woven Tops © 60" Selected Linen-Look Suitings © 60" Oxford Shirting In Fashion Lengths * 60" Blouseweights ¢ 60" Printed Bottomweights © 60" Bottomweight Sportswear sf ; ina COAT'S & CLARK|| AND MCALL'S, BUTTERICK, THREAD SIMPLICITY é . ay aeeat €very Spoo!' % PATTERNS OFF No other offers apply seine aliens a ina large / assortment of / colors and % 502 f ; } = ‘. Ladies Jog Sets You'll love ou Great looking casual anced ju nior tops p in 5ges comfortable and prints — —— solids,stripes sats Silactsd i Our Regular styles Our Regular ; Price $1 5-$1 6 arrayof color ina Our Regular Price $28-$56 ae IT'S SEW EASY PATTERNS $997 Lirntt 4 in-stock patterns Noother offers apply No other diedaees. offers apply eater 88* All in-stock sewing machines are on sale during this event! 4 Cloth World ends Monday. Ket May ) elect ay vary fro ater NEW SPRING HOURS: MON. THRU FRI. 9-9, SAT.9-6 lag) 3795 Washington Blvd. ¢ Ogden Ph. 399-1362 ot om, SE@TBE.ZTS| Everybody’s Wearing Them {sh $g99.84599 i Open Casual Shirts j ' P i % (? Choose from a selection of knits and wovens. Many styles and colors to choose from Our Regular Price $12-$22 ¢ FACTORY OUTLETS nants Open i lad U es One size fits all ;--.- Choosefrompastel $4499 Price $10-$15 iS, VOGUE PATTERNS 2 ; styles ENTIRE STOCK ENTIRE STOCK a hice $1 993. : Stylish knit tops ENTIRE SYOOK d ees tops and shorts of colors. el Ladies Sportswear Choose froma wide variety of pants, skirts, sweaters ina oo large g selection OR EeeeaeRH ENTIRE STOCK bee Ladies Dolman Top <4 or bright colors. Comparable value $12 a eee |