The Official Student Publication Of Bethel College Volume 69, No. 3; October 8, 1993 My foam cup runneth over: polystyrene versus paper by Mindy Reinhold $69 a ton to incinerate it. of its high BTU value, according to a Writing Intern Other problems with recycling Polystyrene Packaging Council, Inc. report. has the same effect when bumed as does polystyrene are storage and method, said This, along with the fact that the amount of plastic, and creates relatively the same Lindahl. Because of its bulky nature it piles residual ash left by incinerating polystyrene amountof pollution, Kistler'smain reason This fall Market Square switched from is far less in volume than that which for preferring paper over plastic is that paper based to polystyrene products. Most incinerating paper produces, persuaded paper's resource, trees, is renewable, noticeable to Market Square consumers Hard that the incineration alternative was whereas plastic's resource, petroleum, is are the new foam cups. environmentally acceptable. Even if the not. "Very rarely do we talk about the Just what is polystyrene? Why did polystyrenecupsweredumpedatalandfill, resource issue. It just doesn't make any Market Square make the switch? And how which they are not, polystyrene will not sense to use one-time use of petroleum, and does it affect the environment, especially degrade and give out methane and carbon then it's gone," Kistler said. compared to paper? These are questions dioxide which contribute to the greenhouse Anderson is skeptical of many claims deserving of answers. effect, according to Hard. shown in the poster in Market Square and According to reports issued by the Hard added that by distributing in the Polystyrene Packaging Council, Inc. Polystyrene Packaging Council, Inc., information at the beginning of the year, "I reports. Fi rst, he said that to say polystyrene "Polystyrene is a lightweight plastic wanted people to understand that it wasn't cups are "ozone safe" is an assumption. If, composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms." just a decision made on the spur of the in fact, CFCs (chlorofiuorocarbons) have It is petroleum and natural gas based. Its moment, say, 'O.K. let's go this way.' We been replaced by HCFCs, a different type, foam type is used for a variety of food went through the thought process. We did these HCFCs do substantially reduce the packaging items, such as the cups Market some investigation. And I feel that we amount of ozone depletion in manufacturing Square now sells. made the best decision based on [the] polystyrene products—by at least 95%, Marriott Food Service Director Nelson information we had." according to a Polystyrene Packaging Hard gave the reasons for his decision to The crust of the information Hard refers Council, Inc. report—but they still will sell polystyrene products. "Number one, to is still available in Market Square on a damage the ozone. we looked at the cost and we said, 'Good large poster in front of the foam cups. Anderson pointed out that to say grief, we can save a lot of money if we go However, others are not as optimistic about incinerating polystyrene is environmentally to polystyrene.'" Hard explained that the environmental safety claims this safe is false because its end-product, carbon polystyrene is not only cheaper for Marriott information contains. Two such people are dioxide, aids the greenhouse effect. to purchase, it also lowers Bethel's hauling Associate Professor of Biology Robert Although incinerating paper also produces cost because that cost is based on weight Kistler and Instructor of Biology Bryan greenhouse gasses, it does not produce and polystyrene weighs substantially less Photo/ H. Larsen Anderson. toxic ash problems, which are possible than paper. Bethel's trash hauler, Aagard, Marriot's switch from paper-based Both feel that the absolute best choice with plastic, according to Anderson. - determines the hauling cost according to products to polystyrene ones raises would be for everyone to consistently use Anderson also doubted the claim that the previous year's garbage weight. ecological concerns. their own reusable hard plastic cups. Hard polystyrene foam food packaging makes Because of the lighter weight of this year's said that he would not be opposed to having up less than one percent of the total solid polystyrene, Managerof Building Services up. It would also need checked disposal only reusable cups if the majority of students waste stream. In considering claims about Ardith Lindahl said that next year's garbage into recycling bins, since sorting and made it clear that they prefer this, even the amount of pollution produced and bill should be lower. dumping liquids are necessary though their choice would be limited to one energy used in making paper and plastic, The second aspect Hard examined in his prerequisites. If Bethel can find a way to size. Kistler and Anderson believe that what decision was the ecological soundness of recycle polystyrene money-wise and Given that Market Square does not have specific areas one looks at and how one polystyrene. Hard said he considered storage-wise, it will certainly do so, a reusable-cups-only-system, Kistler said measures pollution and energy will shape recycling versus landfills. Although in according to Lindahl. She said that they that foam is better than paperif it is recycled. one's conclusions. Kistler pointed out that favor of recycling, he concluded that it willdiscuss recycling with Aagard, Bethel's Kistler pointed out that foam is a pure although foam produces less pollution than does not make economical sense. While trash hauler, in late October. product and can be recycled 100%, whereas paper does in manufacturing, because no Bethel's other recycling is done in the Aside from recycling difficulties, Hard it was impossible to recycle the paper cups bleaches are used for foam, oil spills should nearby Twin Cities area, polystyrene would considered how incinerating polystyrene Market Square previously sold because of also be considered. have to be hauled to the Chicago area, affects the environment. All of the their wax coating. Anderson also believes that a wide view according to Hard. This not only means an polystyrene waste is incinerated, along with Given that Market Square does not of all the aspects should be taken in order to additional hauling cost, but a fuel waste in Bethel's othertrash, according to Hard and recycle its polystyrene products, Kistler arrive at an intelligible conclusion. As far transporting as well. "It would add cost Lindahl. Not only does polystyrene bum and Anderson both prefer paper over plastic, as he is concerned, plastics are less friendly over and above what the school is already safely, producing "carbon dioxide, water such as polystyrene. Along with the reasons to the environment, both in their production paying for paper hauling," said Hard. vapor and possibly a trace of ash," but it that paper takes up less space in a landfill and in their disposal. According to Lindahl, the hauling cost is also aids the incineration process because $320 a ton to recycle polystyrene, but only How does Iowa spell ook for our relief? B-E-T-H-E-L, see story on page 7. .' Clarion; October 8,1993 Health Issues: Stress in the "student body" News Briefs by Dirk Kingsley by Frank Butterfield with, it can cause kidney failure and News Editor Staff Writer many other diseases, or even strokes. Larson emphasized the need for How is stress affecting the Bethel today's students to find ways to decrease . community? Where can help be found? the stress in their lives. "Exercise is one National Director of Residence Life and Campus of the most beneficial ways to deal with Housing Dale Peterson and Associate stress. Secondly, instead of increasing Amish Issues to be Tried in Wisconsin Court • Dean of Student Life Ken Hadley were junk food consumption, eat healthily," interviewed on the subject of how they she said. "Think of and do relaxing Wisconsin courts will take up Amish issues in October involving mandatory and others at the Office of Student Life thingsand look forhealthy social support. slow-moving signs on their buggies, outhouse licences, and dairy sanitation (FA 314) help people with theirproblems. Do what we find comforting so our bodies practices. In addition, the Wisconsin state legislature will look into a one-room Besides being in charge of all campus can recover." school house in Augusta, Wisconsin that has been threatened with foreclosure housing, Peterson is the supervisorof all Interviews were conducted among because it does not meet state buildingcodes. "I feel ashamed that we have caused the Resident Directors and Resident freshmen students to find out whether a burden," said Harvey Kurtz, a member of the Amish School Board. "As far as Assistants on campus. they are experiencing stress, and if so, afire (from a wood stove) we are under the protection of God,"explained William "Typically a Resident Assistant is the how they deal with it. Yoder, an Amish Augusta resident. "But if we had a fire, we would call the fire first one to recognize someone having a Eric Oseland said, "At this moment I department." stress problem. The Resident Assistant have no stress. I have experienced stress Compiled from an article in the Pioneer Press. will sit down and talk to the student and, when trying to get assignments done that if the problem is deeper, he will get the are due the next day. I haven't felt much College Students Fail Consumer Knowledge Test stress yet. I've got a 300 level Resident political science class that is 2,010 full-time juniors and seniors attending four-year colleges and universities Director an going to cause me stress.