Now, researchers report in ACS Central Science the ability to leverage one additive in black plastics, with the help of sunlight or white LEDs, to convert black and colored polystyrene waste into ...

What’s more, they repeated the experiments with focused sunlight instead of light from LEDs and achieved even higher yields—up to 80% conversion of a black foam tray to styrene in just 5 min.

Not all plastics are equal — some types and colors are easier to recycle than others. For instance, black foam and black coffee lids, which are often made of polystyrene, usually end up in landfills ...