Styrofoam’s the culprit behind Reunion Arena demolition backpedalling

by PegNews wire

MMmm... polymers!

As reported, the City of Dallas decided not to allow contractors to use dynamite (or whatever exotic energetic materials demolition pros use nowadays) to implode what remains of Reunion Arena, because of a "non-asbestos" insulation material discovered in the upper decks. That insulation material has now been identified as (drum roll, please): STYROFOAM!!!

That's right, the explosives have been put away and three months (and $50K) added to the demolition process so that the dangers of having polymerized styrene in the groundfill can be avoided.

Which makes me wonder: Should I be drinking hot coffee (or anything else) out of a Styrofoam cup?

Meanwhile, for a limited time, you can get your own Reunion Arena over on eBay, where a miniature replica is currently up for bid -- complete with "original styrofoam and packaging."

Now, THAT'S realism!

posted by JM

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Anonymous

Colleen Walsh says:

Isn't Styrofoam the dreaded "#6 plastic" that no recycling center ever accepts?

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3 months, 1 week ago
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John Meyer says:

Colleen, you're mostly correct, according to <a href="http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/218/1/Recycling-styrofoam.html">this source</a>, which offers tips for first-person recycling of polystyrene to counter the fact that most curbside operations don't accept it.

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3 months, 1 week ago
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alexander troup says:

It is sad, a building like that has to come on down becuase of the way things are run by out side folk's who run the inside City stuff,....

While the foam is just a groan and a moan, there is that other stuff,that comes flying down in couple of weeks...

Stange thing about this whole disolve is.. I was on site in the area in 1973 when they began to build the Arena.... found some great old bottles from Dr Pepper Ca. 1905....oh well another one bite's the dust..in the land of Big D's....A/T, What will happend to me,I wonder...as Demolition Dallas continues...