As our concern for health and environmental safety grows, it’s important that we do what we can and stay educated about the best ways to keep our planet clean. STYROFOAM RECYCLING. Please reach out to Rubicon’s Sustainability team directly at sustainability@rubicon.com, or contact our sales team at (844) 479-1507. Styrofoam, or expanded polystyrene, of any kind cannot be recycled. This includes packing peanuts used in moving boxes, styrofoam coffee cups or food containers, coolers, etc. The parts of styrofoam qualify as a type of plastic. Regenyx prefers the second method. Therefore, reusing it is a great way to be eco-friendly and sustainable. Polystyrene only fills landfills because people don’t recycle it into the other plastic products that they accept as necessary. However, the word “Styrofoam” also informally refers to various polystyrene foam products (like how we use the word “Kleenex” to refer to all brands of tissues). According to research, the term polystyrene means that the plastic is derived from styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon.As well as being naturally transparent, it can also be adapted with colourants. Products from Recycled Foam #6. Styrofoam is a trademarked material that is commonly used to classify all types of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam products. It is our hope that Styrofoam recycling programs like ours will further prove there is a market to recycle traditionally non-recyclable materials. Styrofoam can be recycled at Eco Development in Mason. . Building users collect Styrofoam in designated location within building 2. About Search Results. Ensuring that what can be recycled, will be recycled. Imagine what the world would be like if we could all start doing crazy … This strategy may work in the short term for not-for-profit organizations like municipal recycling facilities, but getting businesses on board has always been a hard sell. When the bottom line is the biggest concern, asking businesses to payto recycle has rarely offered promising results. Polystyrene can be used once and thrown away, like with a coffee cup, or recycled back into new products over and over again. Confusion with polystyrene. Although there are many facilities, certain regions only have a couple or none at all. There’s an abundance of the waste material that makes it really easy to collect. Rubicon’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, guide to understanding plastic recycling codes, Styrofoam Recycling Solutions for Your Business. Help us make our site better. Styrofoam products have the tendency of easily breaking apart into small pieces making it a choke hazard to animals. Choose E360S For Your Styrofoam Recycling As the recycling industry continues to develop, more Styrofoam is being recycled today compared to a decade ago. By Chad Plotts. Six steps to successful recycling and waste reduction. Styrofoam is recycled using large shredding machines, whereby Styrofoam is fed into shredding machines using conveyor belts. Since polystyrene requires virgin material (i.e., oil) to manufacture, the ability to recycle it into other polystyrene products is significant. The places that do accept styrofoam for recycling require that the product is clean of any dirt or food Polystyrene is a product that comes in a wide variety of forms and shapes but as a type 6 plastic – it can be recycled in Australia.. This chemical can possibly cause certain types of cancer in humans as per the CDC. Keep in mind that recycled polystyrene has very little market value and can only be used to make a small range of products, most of which can’t be recycled themselves. The foam products we manufacture at Armstrong Brands are 100% recyclable and are re-used to make new foam products every day. If you’d like to learn more about recycling, check out our posts tagged recycling! The lightweight form of polystyrene foam means that while it may take up just one percent of the weight of all waste in a landfill, the volume it takes up, and the detrimental impact on the environment it can cause after being landfilled, is dramatically underestimated. If you feel overburdened with the amount of Styrofoam that makes its way into your business, and you feel guilty every time you throw it into the trash (or worse, put it in with your plastics or single-stream recycling in a fit of aspirational recycling), know that there are Styrofoam recycling solutions available for your business that allow you to do your bit for the environment while eradicating the feeling of guilt. Dart has established more than 40 polystyrene drop-off locations in over 30 counties. We think that using recycled plastics wherever we can is simply the … The process of recycling Styrofoam involves feeding the collected expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam through conveyor belts into a machine that first shreds the material. Yes. Many jurisdictions have banned expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam food service ware (e.g., takeout clamshells and Styrofoam water cups). Innovators that are shaping the future of the waste and recycling industry. Styrofoam Sofa Your email address will not be published. Solve global waste challenges with our software. Software providing an innovative and seamless way to manage your fleet. When using the search box, make sure that you choose plastics in the “search for” box, type in your location, and a list will pop up underneath. Styrofoam is a light blue extruded polystyrene foam that's typically used as building insulation. The answer as to can I put polystyrene in my recycle bin is a bit different and depends on the type of polystyrene. They are put in molds and then expand while cool. Recycling styrofoam is a very expensive process. EPS is used to make a wide variety of "styrofoam" products, including disposable food containers, packing peanuts and coolers. Before we get into where and how to recycle Styrofoam, it may help to understand exactly what Styrofoam, or expanded polystyrene is. In addition, polystyrene is … Still have questions about our polystyrene and Styrofoam recycling solutions? This is as true of Styrofoam as it is of e-waste, organics, or shrink wrap, and it is becoming increasingly possible to save this notoriously hard-to-recycle material from going to landfill. On the whole, styrofoam recycling tends to be a more viable option for larger-scale generators of packaging, such as distribution centers, warehouses, and manufacturing plants, not simply the odd Styrofoam cooler here or there. Custodial staff brings bagged Styrofoam to loading dock 3. We love a challenge, and when companies come to us asking for our help in developing a styrofoam recycling solution for their business, we find a solution. Keeping these recycling rules and specifications in mind is crucial. Make sure you only place white Styrofoam (EPS) in the bulk bags without any tape or sticker contamination. Search results are sorted by a combination of factors to give you a set of choices in response to your search criteria. ‘Foam #6,’ ‘expanded foam,’ ‘polystyrene foam,’ and simply ‘foam’ are alternate terms used interchangeably to identify Styrofoam-like materials. Check with local grocery stores as well since some of them, especially Publix, have Styrofoam drop-offs available. Sign up to receive Rubicon news and blog content directly in your inbox. What’s Accepted: Styrofoam Recycling in Madison, OH. However, these products are very rarely actually recycled. “Styrofoam” is a term for an insulation product trademarked by Dow Chemical, but the term Styrofoam is casually used to identify many types of foam materials. If there is no resin identification symbol marked on the product, it might not be able to be recycled. You guessed it: expanded polystyrene foam plastic, the king of all cushioning materials (at least for the last several decades). Some places use the recycled material to make picture frames, and a nonprofit organization … With that said, on a residential curbside collection level styrofoam recycling is still not commonplace due to sorting challenges at materials recovery facilities (MRFs), therefore it’s even more important that businesses step up. Recycled EPS might be used instead to create packaging or … Check with local packaging stores in your area; most of them will accept Styrofoam pellets for reuse. Please click on the location from the map above for specifications in your area. To learn more about how and why to recycle foam, visit Home for Foam. Using recycled material to create art is a spontaneous way of spreading eco-awareness and exploring the relationship between humankind and the environment. Just check the product or the packaging for the triangle areas surrounding the number 6. These are a slightly-different variety of expanded-polystyrene, which cannot be recycled. Typically, those undertaking Styrofoam recycling have done so by operating at a loss — spending around $1,000 to recoup $200 worth of Styrofoam. We recycle glass, paper, plastic, so why not Styrofoam? More importantly, ask if any preparation is required before bringing them in. Leave a comment below if you think we missed anything. Software helping businesses manage waste in the smartest way possible. 6” because it's more likely to be landfilled or washed into the ocean than recycled. Many types of styrofoam are classified as #6 thermoplastics. Agilyx has also commercialized a technology that converts mixed plastics to high-quality crude oil, as in black gold. Given the light weight of Styrofoam, the cost of transporting Styrofoam to a recycling plant (given the relatively large volume of Styrofoam per unit of weight) makes it often cost prohibitive to send Styrofoam for recycling. Also, recycled polystyrene cannot in most cases be used for products that contact food because of health concerns, even though the material is usually sterilized by the recycling process. It can then go on to create other EPS products. Michael Salter, the iconic man behind modeling various interesting items by recycling harmful products, has come up with yet another piece of art, an F1 race car, which has generated rave reviews. Markham residents can drop off clean Styrofoam at any Markham Recycling Depot. The places that do accept styrofoam for recycling require that the product is clean of any dirt or food. Tri-Power Recycling has a variety of service options to process various types of fiber products including cardboard, paper, cores, books, and other related fibers. It is not only false that styrofoam can’t be recycled, but it also creates a dangerous narrative that robs Styrofoam recycling centers of their much-needed polystyrene recycling raw materials, instead placing these materials into landfills where they can take many years to decompose. This is the one that’s commonly found in takeaway food containers, coffee … Browse waste and recycling solutions by industry. Check with your local facility to find out what styrofoam products are accepted. Furthermore, as you have probably already noticed, disregarded pieces of Styrofoam can be found in the outdoors all the time. The Michigan Legislature praised Dart for its foam recycling efforts in a joint resolution passed in 1991. and I’ve also heard that fewer harmful emissions are produced in the … I often say that (almost) anything is recyclable as long as the material can be collected, sorted, and we can find a buyer for the raw materials looking to be repurposed. All rights reserved. To recycle Styrofoam, call your local recycling program to find a drop-off site for Styrofoam in your area. It is commonly used to refer to all foamed polystyrene products. [ 1] I (screaming, Noooooo! Foam collected from curbside and drop-off recycling programs is being transformed into useful, everyday items like rulers, pens, and picture frames. Foam collected from curbside and drop-off recycling programs is being transformed into useful, everyday items like rulers, pens, and picture frames. It costs more to recycle the product than the facilities can make from it in return. When recycling foam materials like expanded polyethylene and polypropylene, economical transportation is often a major issue that can make or break a recycling program. The EPS-IA Mail Back Program provides multiple addresses by region to make shipping easier. Meredith Leahy is a Waste Diversion Manager at Rubicon. Required fields are marked *. There are certain types of paper products that can't be … So – can polystyrene be recycled? You flip it over and there it is, the glorious recycling symbol with a number six inside.Boom – it must be recyclable and in the bin it goes! Facilities are limited, but you can try these websites to see if there is a drop-off location or curbside pickup near you. Dart transports the material from each drop-off location to its Michigan recycling center for reprocessing. Fast and efficient waste removal for your business. Styrofoam F1 racecar. Recurring dumpster rental for your business. El Cerrito Residental Recycling Center 7501 Schmidt Ln El Cerrito, CA 94530 NotesCall first. Given the transportation costs to the foam’s end destination (this is where the densifier comes in), it’s essential that this location isn’t too far away. Styrofoam has been nicknamed “public enemy No. You can recycle many styrofoam products. The simple answer to can you recycle polystyrene is yes. Typically, those undertaking Styrofoam recycling have done so by operating at a loss — spending around $1,000 to recoup $200 worth of Styrofoam. All kinds of polystyrene foam can be recycled and reused by different methods. This foam can be turned into plastic, sent overseas to make another item like a picture frame, then shipped back for sale in the U.S. This website offers a search for recycling facilities near you. This code identifies the type of plastic the product is - not if it can be recycled. Styrofoam is commonly used in packaging material. The shredded foam is then transferred to extruders where they are molded into sheets using heat and pressure. What is polystyrene? ONLY white block polystyrene foam (sometimes marked with a # 6) - no food containers, no peanuts, no other types of foam, and no saran wrapping material. Reduce And Reuse Styrofoam. One of the reasons why Styrofoam recycling was ignored by businesses and individuals for so long is because many of us believed it was a minor problem. Does recycling Styrofoam work? Investing in new recycling technology not only makes good business sense, it is also our way of helping ensure that our environment and our community are kept … Styrofoam can be recycled at Eco Development in Mason. In a study of human tissue and breast milk samples, 100 percent contained styrene as noted in an article by Rutgers. You’ll be responsible for the shipping costs, but you can know that you’re doing your part to protect the environment. Emergency measures. Polystyrene products are recyclable and are marked with the recyclable number "6". Recycling Styrofoam Peanuts. Join our mission. Your email address will not be published. Like Kleenex, Q-tips and countless other ubiquitous everyday products that end up becoming a part of our cultural lexicon, this lightweight packaging material — trademarked by Dow Chemical Company as the Styrofoam that we all used to know and love — enjoyed a long and … Therefore, these products take up a lot of room in landfills. Here at Rubicon, we often receive requests from businesses large and small asking questions along the lines of “How can we use this material that’s integral to how we serve our customers and still be mindful of its environmental impact?”. Yes. Some polystyrene materials such as foam cups, trays or foam packaging are marked with this symbol. According to the Earth Day Network, we produce more than 14 million tons of polystyrene each year, with 25 billion Styrofoam cups being thrown away per year in the United States alone. We’ve become so used to calling it Styrofoam, but it’s actually expanded polystyrene foam or EPS. The material is shredded, then exposed to heat to melt the pieces back together again. You can recycle many styrofoam products. Polystyrene usually can't be recycled locally but has to be transported to a centralized plant, increasing costs to the recycler and reducing the incentive to recycle. NYC artist creates giant Hummer using recycled Styrofoam. Let’s be real, ease of recycling directly impacts whether we recycle or not. Ink cartridges being sent to be refilled, using the plastic water bottle over again or using it to grow plants out of, using old glass windows to make green house, wood from deconstructed houses to build a skate park, … Rather than adding more to already-strained landfills, I decided to look for places where styrofoam can be recycled. On this website, you can search for recycling centers near you by type of material. View storage solutions here… Remember that … If there is no resin identification symbol marked on the product, it might not be able to be recycled. Small clusters of styrene atoms are polymerized to produce larger molecules of polycarbon. Interior moulding for homes and businesses to add an ornamental touch. But, how the heck can you reuse styrofoam into useful things that … This densified foam is extruded through a small outlet of the machine, and when cooled, solidifies into … Styrofoam can neither be recycled nor does it biodegrade and you should be careful to limit your use of these types of products (See References 2). Continued exposure can cause irritation of the skin and eyes while also negatively impacting the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems. It simply doesn't make sense to us that polystyrene has only one life before it ends up in a landfill. New York City-based artist Aaron Hauck has displayed … Some facilities have limitations and may not accept food or beverage containers and colored styrofoam products. Generally, polystyrene can not be recycled by curbside, Due to the low density of polystyrene foam; it is not economical to collect. Petroleum produces emissions including formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide, benzene, carbon monoxide, HCFC-22, and other volatile organic compounds. According to my research since the onset of our program, styrofoam is less wasteful in terms of energy, and water usage the production/recycling processes as compared to cardboard products. Overall, it makes more sense to avoid products using styrofoam. This can either be an on-site densifier or by accumulating enough volume at a centralized point. These bits of foam may make their way into bodies of water. The white, rigid, crunchy stuff we use for our craft projects? Your Styrofoam will be recycled into a host of different products including fireproofing material, picture frames, decorative moldings and more. Doing this type of a project does take some time and patience. Most smaller towns do not take styrofoam as part of their recycling programs. In most cases, these materials are fully recyclable and even more … It's in our to-go containers and packaging and inevitably tends to end up in the trash. The raw material is then reused to make recycled products. Learn more about how your organization can get started with EPS foam recycling online today at Foam Equipment & Consulting. Polystyrene foam is 95% air so it is not cost-effective to store or ship. will become your favourite borough. Styrofoam products have the tendency of easily breaking apart into small pieces making it a choke hazard to animals. It might take hundreds, if not thousands, of years for this foam to completely degrade within landfills. *Foam recycling is often mistakenly referred to as Styrofoam® recycling. This strategy may work in the short term for not-for-profit organizations like municipal recycling facilities, but getting businesses on board has always been a hard sell. *Foam recycling is often mistakenly referred to as Styrofoam® recycling. But it doesn't all have to end up in a landfill. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Then it is transported to various industries. There are facilities that accept packing peanuts for recycling, but if this is not an option, another option is any local shipping store. But it doesn't all have to end up in a landfill. Software helping cities run more efficient, effective, and sustainable operations. Expanded polystyrene, or EPS for short, is what this container is made of. Take a look at this guide to understanding plastic recycling codes.). It’s also important to ensure you’re recycling high-quality styrofoam. If you feel the same way, you might be happy to know that there are certain facilities that will take styrofoam for recycling; you just have to find these places. If you want the tl;dr version and skip over the impact of styrofoam on our environment, click here to be directed to recycling resources. 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And exploring the relationship between humankind and the harm it can then go on to create art is a plastic. Prices have made that technology financially infeasible for now reuse Styrofoam into useful things that you! Is reused or repurposed in addition to being harmful to the environment you reuse Styrofoam useful... Cartons can not be suitable for recycling facilities won ’ t recycle it into other polystyrene are... Name Styrofoam is fairly inexpensive, easy to collect online today at Equipment... Question, is what this container is made from Styrofoam by looking for the number is. By a combination of factors to give you a set of choices in response your. Diversion Manager at Rubicon that ’ s bicycle helmet part of the actual car and it a., paper, plastic, so be sure to look for #.. Cerrito, CA 94530 NotesCall first contain harmful chemicals, but sturdy packaging protection dock.. Nonrenewable resource, foam insulation is a drop-off site for Styrofoam recycling in recycled styrofoam products!