Styrofoam Blocks, Food Trays, Chips and Containers

Reduce | Reuse | Recycle | Facilities

How do I go green?

Reduce

To reduce your consumption of polystyrene, try to purchase products that come with little or no packaging or in greener packaging materials, such as molded paper blocks, corn based food trays, aluminum trays or foil.  Bring you own re-useable container for take out.  Use recycled newspaper or egg cartons to pack breakables when moving or mailing packages.  Encourage your local grocery store to replace Styrofoam meat trays with biodegradable trays made from corn or paper. 

Reuse

Crumbled polystyrene foam can be used in the bottoms of your planter pots to increase drainage.  Save large or small chunks of polystyrene for packaging when shipping. Investigate schools or craft shops that may wish to use the material in art projects.  Styrofoam packing chips can also be returned to some courier companies for reuse.

Recycle

Recycled foamed polystyrene can be added to products, such as clothes hangers, toys, flower pots, park benches and decking.  It can also be combined with cement to act as an insulating element in concrete foundations.  Foamed polystyrene is recyclable, but facilities are limited and markets are inconsistent. Incineration as a power source is also an option, though this produces carbon dioxide, benzenes and carbon monoxide, which must be removed before being emitted into the air.  Check the Recyclopedia’s listing to find a depot that accepts polystyrene materials.

Look out for the corn plastics- these are compostable, not recyclable and will contaminate the plastic recycling process.
Styrofoam is not accepted in the curbside Blue Box program.
Important Note:  The facilities listed below may only accept certain types of Styrofoam and may have quantity limits and fees.  To ensure the facility will accept your Styrofoam for recycling, contact them directly to confirm.