Leftover Styrofoam: from waste to treasure with these ingenious reuse ideas

Styrofoam, also known as expanded polystyrene or EPS, is a material widely used in product packaging due to its lightness and ability to protect objects from impacts and damage during transport.

However, once it has served its purpose, it often becomes problematic waste due to its low biodegradability and volume, taking up space in landfills and generating negative environmental impacts. Fortunately, there are ingenious and environmentally friendly alternatives to reuse leftover styrofoam, turning it from waste into a true treasure.

There are many ways to recycle it, but in this article, we will explore in particular two ways to reuse it by dissolving it into a thick paste and a clear varnish, offering new and creative opportunities to reduce our environmental impact.

Index

What to do with leftover styrofoam?

Pay attention to the following two ways to transform styrofoam into something useful:

Thick styrofoam paste:

Dissolving polystyrene in gasoline makes a dense, malleable, paint-like paste that can be used for a variety of craft and modeling projects. Here are the steps to follow in this process:

• Collect leftover Styrofoam: Collect leftover Styrofoam that you want to reuse. These can be leftover packaging, food trays, disposable cups, etc.
• Safety Precautions: It is important to carry out this process in a well-ventilated area and away from heat sources or open flames. Gasoline is a highly flammable liquid.
• Crush the styrofoam: To facilitate dissolution, crush the styrofoam into small pieces or grates using a knife or grater.
• Dissolving in gasoline: Place the Styrofoam pieces in a sturdy container and pour in enough gasoline to completely cover them. Allow the polystyrene to dissolve in the gasoline for several minutes, stirring occasionally to speed up the process.
• Making the paste: Once the polystyrene has completely dissolved, you will have a thick, malleable paste. It can be moulded or used to fill gaps and cracks in various craft projects.

Clear Styrofoam Varnish:

In addition to the thick paste, polystyrene can also be dissolved in acetone and universal polyurethane thinner. You will obtain a transparent varnish, which can be used to protect and finish different surfaces. Here are the steps to create this varnish:

• Gather leftover styrofoam: Just like above, make sure to collect any leftover styrofoam you want to reuse.
• Shred the styrofoam: Shred the styrofoam into small pieces or shreds, similar to the previous process.
• Safety Precautions: It is important to carry out this process in a well-ventilated area and away from heat sources or open flames.
• Acetone and universal thinner solution: Place the Styrofoam pieces in a sturdy container and pour in acetone and universal polyurethane thinner in a ratio of 2 to 1. Allow the polystyrene to dissolve in the mixture for several minutes, stirring occasionally to speed up the process.
• Obtaining the varnish: Once the polystyrene has completely dissolved, you will obtain a transparent varnish. It can be applied to different surfaces to protect them and give them a shiny and resistant finish.

By reusing Styrofoam, we not only reduce the environmental impact associated with its disposal. We also open up a world of creative possibilities to use these new materials in various crafts and projects.

We recommend: Don’t waste old razor blades: discover how to turn them into pure gold with this ingenious use

It is important to always carry out these reuse practices in a safe and appropriate environment, taking the necessary precautions to avoid any risks associated with the materials and liquids used. Go ahead and give styrofoam a second life and discover the beauty and functionality you can create from this versatile waste material!