Throughout life, there are always situations and environments where loud noises are present. Noise at such a volume can cause harm to your hearing and ears. It’s vital that you protect your ears from this sort of exposure. That’s why earplugs are the first choice when it comes to preventing this harm to health.
However, there is a darker side to the usage of earplugs. Because of their low cost, they have been widely adopted by consumers and this has added to our already full landfill sites. This is because they’re meant for single use only. Furthermore, the effects they will have on the environment will uncover more costs in the future.
If recycling were to be implemented by the worldwide community on this issue, we would have some headway. So can foam earplugs be recycled? We’ll give the answers further down.
Are Foam Earplugs Recyclable?
Commonly, we as consumers will use the cheapest, most available and easy product to use. When it comes to hearing protection, foam earplugs fit the bill quite nicely. They are designed to protect from loud environments such as building sites, live music events etc.
Foam earplugs are widely available, so what’s not to like?
Foam earplugs cannot be recycled. This means they will inevitably find their final resting place in a landfill or littered in the environment. They’re made from petrochemicals such as polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride. We refer to this substance as memory foam, and it cannot be broken down by conventional recycling practices.
These materials are designed for a purpose. That purpose isn’t to be recycled! No, they are made to provide an insulating effect, which is why they’re great at providing protection for your ears. Furthermore, these materials are used in building houses to trap heat and keep out sound.
It’s likely that your roof, walls and doors contain these substances. Where petrochemicals resist recycling, there is a process in which they can be burned for fuel.
All plastics are created using crude oil as the main ingredient. The plastics involved in making earplugs are made using a particular method of chemical processes, which makes them difficult to melt down again.
Because of this, foam earplugs can really only be shredded instead of recycled. Shredded earplugs are only good for making carpets.
There are some emergent technologies that are making the recycling of foam earplugs easier. Particularly, a chemical called dibutyltin dilaurate which helps to break down the foam so it can be made into other materials.
Once in this broken-down state, the foam can be manipulated by a machine which will work the foam into a new type of material that can be used in the production of hard plastic and plastic films.
Are Foam Earplugs Toxic?
While foam earplugs are not necessarily toxic to the human body, they can be harmful to the environment. If accidentally ingested, there are no toxic chemicals that will cause immediate harm. However, if inhaled they will cause major, life-threatening problems.
Polyvinyl chloride can release toxic chemicals into the environment when they are left sitting in a landfill for long periods of time. This is why we should prioritise technologies that can help recycle them.
Are Foam Earplugs Reusable?
You can reuse foam earplugs, however, it’s probably not recommended to do this often. The material that foam earplugs are made of is quite porous which means that it will absorb substances easily.
Because of this, foam earplugs are likely to be a haven for bacteria, dirt and dead skin cells. This means every time you use them, you may be depositing these unwanted substances into your ear canal.
If you’ve decided to keep using your foam earplugs after the first use, make sure you clean them well, let them dry and store them in a dry place. Failing that, you can always buy more foam earplugs, as they are cheap and widely available.
How To Clean Reusable Foam Earplugs?
It’s easy to think that reusing your foam earplugs is a good thing. It might help the environment and save you a bit of money.
However, this is not the best course of action because foam earplugs are meant for single use. Using them beyond that, the earplugs will become unhygienic. Though, if you’re determined to get multiple uses out of them, you can clean them using a few methods.
- You can wash your used foam earplugs using mild detergent in warm water.Make sure to get rid of earwax and dirt and air dry before using again. Don’t be tempted to use harder chemicals to clean your earplugs like bleach or alcohol. Your earplugs are not meant to withstand such chemicals and they may break down over time.
- Hydrogen peroxide can be used in cleaning your earplugs. Audiologists suggest soaking the earplugs in this chemical diluted in warm water for a couple of minutes. Once you’ve done this, the dirt and earwax will be loosened from the earplug. You can now use a toothbrush or similar implement to scrub off the dirt. Rinse the earplugs under water and leave them to air dry.
Maintaining your earplugs can be as vital as cleaning them in keeping them usable for the future. Make sure to store your earplugs in a warm and dry place and if you can, store them in a case. This means they will be free of dirt the next time you come to need them.
Our ears always have dirt, wax and dead skin in them and these will rub off onto the earplugs when you use them. So make sure to only use your earplugs when necessary. You can take a further step to keep them clean and clean out your ears before using earplugs.
With all this in mind, you should be able to keep your foam earplugs relatively clean and effective in their use. However, if you notice that they are deteriorating or their performance is not up to standard. Discard them.
Can Foam Earplugs Damage Your Ears?
In most circumstances, foam earplugs will protect your ears from noisy environments and you’ll not have any problems. Equally, if you misuse or incorrectly fit your earplugs you can encounter several problems and even cause damage to your ear. Here are some issues that can be caused by incorrect earplug use:
1. Ear Infection
If you regularly use foam earplugs and do not clean them properly or maintain them in good condition, there can be negative side effects. The porous nature of foam means that bacteria will easily settle into the earplug and grow. This can introduce infection to your ear canal. If you have pain, inflammation, or itching in your ear, you may have an ear infection. In this circumstance, get medical advice.
2. Temporary Loss of Hearing
Impacted earwax is a common cause of hearing loss. This happens when a foreign object pushes the natural build-up of earwax further into the ear. Earwax protects the ear from dirt, bacteria and fungus but also cleans the ear of dead cells. Earwax will naturally leave the ear by itself.
However, with regular use of earplugs, this earwax can be pushed into the ear, preventing it from leaving and causing impaction of the earwax. Tinnitus can be a common side effect of earwax impaction, which is a high-pitched ringing sound. A GP can remove excess wax or you can be given ear drops as well.
Ear infection can also cause hearing loss, and can lead to permanent damage to your ear.
3. Ear Pain
If you’re considering what earplugs to buy, make sure to take into account the size of your ear. If you buy earplugs that are too big, you may start to experience pain in your ear, as the plug is not the right size. In this scenario, you can buy a variety of sizes to make sure you get a good fit.
4. Other Problems
Earplugs are meant for blocking out sound from your environment. This is good when that’s what you’re intending. Bear in mind, that sounds that alert you to danger will be dulled as well. Things like fire alarms or a cry for help will not be heard as clearly if at all.
Are Memory Foam Earplugs Washable?
Following a cleaning regimen for your earplugs is a great way to keep them hygienic and suitable for use. Once they have reached their lifespan and are no longer suitable for blocking out sound, throw them away. Memory foam earplugs can be washed and their memory-like properties will not be affected.
The reason for its name is the substance called polyurethane. This causes the foam to recede back to its original form after pressure is applied. This is great for the requirements of an earplug. You can make the plug small to fit into your ear canal whilst it will expand to fill the cavity for your protection.
Certain compounds that are added to the foam like Toluene diisocyanate, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and polyether polyol make the end product more pliable.
Do Foam Earplugs Expire?
While they’re designed to serve as ear protection once, there’s no hard and fast rule for when to get rid of them. Washing the earplug will allow you to use them time and time again, prolonging their life and making the environment a cleaner place.
At room temperature whilst dry, foam earplugs will happily stay ready to be used. Too hot and the foam will deteriorate and if kept too cold they will become brittle.
Whenever you sense the earplugs changing from how they should normally operate, it’s time to throw them away, and buy a new pair.
Conclusion
Whether you work on a building site or just need to get some DIY done, or perhaps you want a quiet night’s sleep. Earplugs can provide a solution to protecting your ears from noisy environments. They’re cheap, widely available and easily used. It’s easy to find a size that will fit most ears as well. Foam earplugs can suit most people’s needs when it comes to ear protection.
When looking at the bigger picture, we can see that there are adverse effects that are made to the environment when foam earplugs are used on a large scale. As they are being used now. Not only do they not degrade naturally but they are quite difficult to recycle as well.
With these issues in mind, perhaps foam earplugs can provide a quick and easy solution to needing ear protection. If you want to help the environment at the same time, try washing your earplugs and reusing them too.
