Polystyrene food containers might be making a comeback at NIU.

University officials met Friday with representatives from the Amoco Foam Products Company and the National Polystyrene Recycling Company (NPRC) to discuss polystyrene recycling.

Patricia Hewitt, associate vice president of Business and Operations, said the meeting was to discuss polystyrene and also ways to improve the NIU recycling program in compliance with recent state legislation.

Amoco representatives John Kalafut and Colleen Harley said they felt NIU students had been misinformed about the environmental impact of polystyrene.

Kalafut said one of the biggest misconceptions is that polystyrene contains chlorfluorocarbons (CFCs) which are released when the containers are broken apart.

According to a NPRC report, “In February of 1989, polystyrene manufacturers phased out the use of fully halogenated CFCs in the manufacturing of foam food service products.”

The report further stated the Environmental Protection Agency verified that “less than 2 percent of all CFCs in the United States were used in the manufacturing of polystyrene.”

“The poly-coated paper cups we use now which replaced the polystyrene cups are not recyclable at all,” Hewitt said.

Hewitt stressed the administration would not begin any plans to use polystyrene without student involvement in the decision.

The NPRC already has implemented polystyrene recycling programs in other states. NPRC representative Carol Josefowicz said they “have a recycling plant in Chicago ready to begin operation.”

“The plant’s opening has been delayed because they have not received the permits necessary to begin,” she said.

However, Student Association Recycling Director Dave Broustis attended the meeting and said he is skeptical about the information.

“These companies that produce polystyrene don’t have any kind of incentive program to recycle,” Broustis said. “They expect the consumer to haul the polystyrene all the way to Chicago.”

“They won’t go to the neighborhoods the way aluminum manufacturers did when they began their recycling programs,” he said.

Hewitt said the administration plans to continue to research the possibility of bringing back polystyrene unless they find a safer alternative.