Eco-Fail: Giant $6M Foam Statue of Liberty a Big Polluting Mess
July 17, 2008 · Print This Article
Perhaps it’s a fitting tribute to a country that wore the ‘Biggest Polluter’ crown for so long: a 130-foot, 50,000-lb replica of the Statue of Liberty, made entirely of foam and sprayed-on plastic. The company that commissioned the statue, however, wasn’t trying to be ironic or make a point. They really thought it was a good idea to construct this thing – which is only 13 feet shorter than the original Statue of Liberty – made up of what the Sierra Club calls ‘the ultimate waste product’.
YTB (Your Travel Biz) has commissioned the Beryl Martin Company of northwest Indiana to create the statue for YTB’s travel convention, held in August 2008 in St. Louis. See the video below:
Styrofoam, of course, is one of the worst substances ever created in terms of its effect on the environment. It’s not biodegradable, and it takes up massive amounts of space in landfills.
So, what’s going to happen to this polluting monster of a sculpture after the YTB is done with it? It’ll end up in the trash. YTB is donating it to a community to stand as ‘a memorial to fallen soldiers’, but it won’t stay completely intact for long. What do you think the community is going to do with it when it starts deteriorating?
Let’s run down the environment-killing aspects of this very stupid idea:
- It’s made of styrofoam
- It’s coated in plastic
- It will take 48 semi trucks to move it from northwest Indiana to St. Louis, Missouri in August. That’s a lot of gas and auto exhaust
- Despite the plastic coating, it won’t be long before this thing starts falling apart and raining styrofoam bits all over the place
- It cost $6 million to make
The unveiling of YTB’s giant statue of liberty is meant to get them plenty of publicity before their convention. Their goal is to be the world’s biggest travel company by 2011. Let’s give them negative publicity instead: YTB is now on our radar as a foe of the environment. They’ve already got a bad rep for being a rip-off pyramid scheme, so it’s not like many people will be surprised.
Thanks for the heads up, J.J.!
- $8 Ticket to See Sebastian Maniscalo at Hollywood Improv on 8/15
- $8 Ticket to See The Best and the Brightest Showcase at Hollywood Improv on 8/26
- $8 For a $20 Ticket to Hollywood Improv—Multiple Dates Available
Related Posts:
Styrofoam Statue of Liberty Protest Rally Planned in St. LouisDo You Really Need Fiji Water More Than Fijians Do?
When Robots Attack, They Will Be Made Of Recycled Styrofoam
Gas Prices Down Again: The Return of America?
EPA FAIL: No Plans to Remove Rocket Fuel from our Drinking Water
there are no words to describe this…
AMERICA WAKE UP
Agreed 100%. I suspect the “donation” is means to get rid of it. I am glad someone sees this from a different angle.
My blog about MLM (Pyramid Schemes) and Travel is here:
htttp://notravelmlms.blogspot.com
[...] a bad rep for being a rip-off pyramid scheme, so it’s not like many people will be surprised. [+] Explore posts in the same categories: dumbass, [...]
Who cares? In a few years, Jesus will return with the Rapture and all of us TRUE CHRISTIANS will be taken away from here.
Jesus tapdancing Christ, arthur doyle, I hope you’re joking. That attitude is exactly what scares the piss out of me, because it’s impossible to reason with.
If you are outraged by this statue, then I assume you are a vegetarian….or not? Not eating meat would do more to save the environment than almost any other activity.
Arthur…are you in YTB…if not, you seem like a good fit!
Yes indeed, I am a vegetarian, Ed.
It is indeed disgusting that this monstrosity was even built, never mind that its $6 million dollar piece of trash that cannot even be disgarded as such.
Styrofoam has been banned in cities across the country because it takes several decades to hundreds of years for polystyrene to deteriorate in the environment or landfill. And, it is a petroleum based and a know carcinogen.
Its kind of like masturbation … but for a whole nation.
Come on guys and gals, there simply cannot be enough styrofoam statue of liberties. I would love to see the Mt Rushmore Heads cemented over and replaced with giant styrofoam JESUS heads. Let the rest of the world know they are condemned to Hell unless they believe in Jesus.
I agree that it is a huge waste of resources and a potential environmental nightmare! How like YTB not to consider that. They want to donate it so it will be a tax write off and ‘not their problem’ anymore. I hope whomever they chose as the lucky donee refuses it. Tacky and terrible.
[...] ‘Biggest Polluter’ crown for so long: a 130-foot, 50,000-lb replica of the Statue of Liberty, made entirely of foam and sprayed-on plastic. The company that commissioned the statue, however, wasn’t trying to be ironic or make a point. [...]
this makes me sick. so sick.
vegetarianism takes the balance to zero, but I like to eat meat AND save the environment. I’m thinking cannibalism is the way to go.
Ugh even memorials are disposable nowadays…
I’m all for the cannibalism. Think of the variety on meats. Dark meat, light meat, all that human veal. Prospective meals who’s only exercise is walking the golf course. Then there are the added bonuses. It’ll reduce resource consumption, make lots of job vacancies, but most importantly thin out the ranks for the arrival of the rapture.
YTB has shown no respect for the travel industry by grossly taking advantage of suppliers for several years, and misleading consumers into believing they could make thousands overnight by becoming a travel agent. So it’s no surprise at all that they have constructed this foam statue without giving any thought at all to what the long term effects would be on the enviornment.
What?
I get to finally live in a world without TRUE CHRISTIANS?
Really?
Promise?
Will you just leave now?
[...] YTB’s commission of a $6 million, 130-foot, 50,000 pound Styrofoam replica of the Statue of Liberty, for its upcoming convention in St. Louis, a symbol of the best of what America has to offer the [...]
Complete waste. Do you realize that it is a 20,000 person convention and the cost is $300 per person to see this monstrosity?
I guess they feel that going green means painting it green!
What’s even more amazing is that the guy who owns YTB owns the company that made this excessive piece of trash. He is basically paying himself.
[...] Statue of Liberty – made up of what the Sierra Club calls ‘the ultimate waste product’…” More Tags: Statue of Liberty, [...]
Those damn, dirty apes.
Can you say money laundering? Sarbanes Oxley? Tax Fraud?
Strap one on and deal with it. PEOPLE PLEASE!!!!! SOMEBODY STOP THIS MONSTROSITY. Geezuz.
Time to start picking your battles people. And this ain’t it.
You people complaining that we need to pick our battles and it isn’t worth fighting about listen up. If no one stands up to corrupt corporations harming our environment who will? Evil lives when good people do nothing. YTB is an MLM/Pyramid scheme making money off of minorities and the lower class. They promise free travel, discounted travel and a ton of tax deductions such as writing off your vacation and your families vacation, writing off your TV and a bunch of other crap that you can’t write off. And, YTB owns the company that is making the statue. Basically, paying themselves and writing it off. That is not right. That is unethical. And, that kind of crap needs to be stopped. Remember Enron? Everyone knew what was going on and no one had the guts to report them and lot of people got hurt and lost money.
As to the foam statue of liberty:
Here are the facts:
* It’s made of styrofoam. Which has been banned in cities across the nation and even MacDonald’s doesn’t use it. Not only is it bad for the environment it causes cancer. You can’t recyle it, it is no biodegradeable and contains toxic chemicals. Plus it is made from petroleum which comes from you guessed it OIL.
1) Styrofoam is a notorious pollutant that is very difficult to recycle due to its light weight and low scrap value. It is generally not accepted in curbside programs, is seldom able to be reused, takes up a considerable amount of space in landfills, and takes a very long time to fully decompose;
2) Due to the physical properties of polystyrene, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that “such materials can have serious impacts on human health, wildlife, and the aquatic environment” because the product breaks down and can clog waterways, or be mistaken for food by wildlife;
3) One of styrofoam’s components, styrene, is a known hazardous substance suspected to be a carcinogen and neurotoxin. Many people do not realize that when they re-heat food in a styrofoam product, toxins are released into their food;
4) AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVES EXIST. The bioplastic industry is reaching new heights. Corn and sugar-cane based plastics have proven highly durable (even more durable than styrofoam in many cases) and biodegrade in 45-60 days;
5) In 500 years, it is unlikely any of us will be around…so the cups we drank our coffee out of this morning shouldn’t be either.
* It’s coated in plastic
* It will take 80 semi trucks to move it from northwest Indiana to St. Louis, Missouri in August. That’s a lot of gas and auto exhaust
* Despite the plastic coating, it won’t be long before this thing starts falling apart and raining styrofoam bits all over the place
* It cost $6 million to make
The Statue is being dedicated to our troops at the convention. Our troops do not need a foam statue. They need money for their kids scholarships, mental health aid, better equipment in Iraq etc. That money could be used to really help the troops instead of a stupid statue that is a health hazard.
And, the city they are going to dedicate it to after the convention really does not want it. Where is it going to end up? The landfill, polluting our waters. If you think it’s not a big issue think again. Corporations need to be more responsible.
Wow. Will YTB be to blame for global warming too!! I believe in taking care of the environment but Lord, you hard core, anti-human being, evironmentalists take it to the extreme. You all need your own country with all the tofu you can eat.
I bet if they made it out of sugar the envrionmentalists would throw a fit because of the pollutants put into the air in the manufacturing of beets.
Awesome, another ignorant dead-ender! We should start a club for firemedic227, Carla, and Edward.
Knowing these people they won’t mind you protesting since it is free speech that it stands for.
Interestingly enough the California Attorney General has filed a law suit against YTB for deceptive business practices among other things and now Illinois is investigating. Couldn’t happen to a nicer company.
Wake Up Everyone! It seems that all you have been
brainwashed by the MEDIA!
Before, you GO on and make a Judgement call on YTB.
Look at yourself in the Mirror…if you are so concerned
about the environment. STOP using the COMPUTER.
I have witnessed PEOPLE’S lives change for the better
because of YTB.
The only folks that are getting SCAMMED are the
lazy BUMS that want a MILLION BUCKS for NOTHING.
I feel sorry for the CA Attorney General, he is going to
make himself look very stupid.
GET YOUR BUTT TO WORK and YOU WILL SEE
PROFITS!!!
@wakeup Please TELL me how I can use YTB to MAKE a MILLION BUCKS to make my life BETTER? Thanks so MUCH for the wakeup CALL, I am going to start WORKING MY BUTT OFF to see PROFITS!!!
It’s so GREAT not to be BRAINWASHED by the MEDIA anymore. Thank you WAKEUP!!!!
ROLLEYES
Where were all the protesters?
It’s coated in plastic and made to last a long time. It’s not being made to be thrown away in a few months.
You “green” tree huggers make me want to puke.
The feeling is mutual Phil.
this is quite easily one of the most moronic and irresponsible things I have ever seen or heard of being carried out by “adults” with money. I am beside myself and so disgusted I think I just threw up in my mouth. OMG. WTF?
So now to recap her saga:
Originally manufactured by Beryl-Martin (a private company held by Sorensen, Tomer, and Tomer) for a reported cost of $8 million
Revised cost to $6 million-$8 million.
Revised cost to $3 million
Donated to Hammond, IN (tax write off? for how much?)
Hammond tries to erect her on an island. Too expensive.
Hammond tries to eBay the hunk of foam. No takers.
Hammond tries to cut her in half for another idea. That must have fallen through.
Hammond cannot even give the foam away.
As to YTB-The California Attorney General slapped them with a $1 million dollar fine and they can not recruit their down line in that state. The same day, the Illinois Attorney General filed a suit to shut them down for being an illegal pyramid.
Just desserts I always say.
You have to do your homework before you make blanket statements. EPS Expanded Polystyrene is 100% recyclable. It is ground down to its origional beed form and remolded. This process can be done several times. Most manufactures of this material have recycling programs in place. We accept all EPS products for recycling in our facility in Florida. As to the “plastic” it is not a plastic but a styrothane. And plastics in this country are recycled every day.
This product is not meant to last weeks or months or even just a few years, we have been in business for 30 years and this product is still in tact. Let’s not be over dramatic, there are many items made from this product to help the enviroment. But yet I find no mention of them in your comments (huh).