One very common use of expanded polystyrene is in packing peanuts, and they are great for very lightweight, but sturdy packaging protection. Certain Paper Products. However, styrofoam is fairly inexpensive, easy to make, and conveniently provides companies with the means to ship and contain products. It is our hope that Styrofoam recycling programs like ours will further prove there is a market to recycle traditionally non-recyclable materials. 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 … This symbol is part of the Plastic Identification Code. Various artists have found different mediums for expressing a universal language to teach respect for the environment. Styrofoam is an especially detrimental form of litter as it is not … Software helping cities run more efficient, effective, and sustainable operations. Just check the product or the packaging for the triangle areas surrounding the number 6. EQUIPMENT SALES. Small clusters of styrene atoms are polymerized to produce larger molecules of polycarbon. The EPS-IA Mail Back Program provides multiple addresses by region to make shipping easier. Dart transports the material from each drop-off location to its Michigan recycling center for reprocessing. With an assortment of pieces of Styrofoam, it took me about 8 hours to make approximately 6 – 18” x 4′ panels. Styrofoam F1 racecar. Regenyx prefers the second method. Access to a site that has a way to densify Styrofoam into blocks before being sent out (otherwise you’d be shipping mostly air) is second to volume as the most important factor in ensuring you’re able to participate in a Styrofoam recycling program. In most cases, these materials are fully recyclable and even more … Choose E360S For Your Styrofoam Recycling As the recycling industry continues to develop, more Styrofoam is being recycled today compared to a decade ago. If there is no resin identification symbol marked on the product, it might not be able to be recycled. Styrofoam does not go in your recycling bin. Products commonly made from recycled foam include: Picture frames to showcase your favorite photographs. Your email address will not be published. Software providing an innovative and seamless way to manage your fleet. Just check the product or the packaging for the triangle areas surrounding the number 6. Honestly, I would pay a small fee to a recycling facility that would accept styrofoam just to reduce the impact on the environment. The raw material is then reused to make recycled products. Tri-Power Recycling represents one of the largest Expanded PolyStyrene (EPS) recycling services in the country. The potential for Styrofoam recycling is growing across the United States. The events include: January 6th - Kroger at 7545 Sylvania Ave. Sylvania Just be sure you take off any tags, stickers, or other debris before recycling, or the whole … It's a close relative of Dow's material. Recycling Styrofoam Peanuts. Emergency measures. We’ve become so used to calling it Styrofoam, but it’s actually expanded polystyrene foam or EPS. Foam Densifiers transfer the material to a plastic extruder where the foam is exposed to heat and pressure to be melted into a paste. 3. YP - The Real Yellow Pages SM - helps you find the right local businesses to meet your specific needs. If there is no resin identification symbol marked on the product, it might not be able to be recycled. Next, they are expanded using steam to fill with air and become 40 times their original size. This densified foam is extruded through a small outlet of the machine, and when cooled, solidifies into … The Michigan Legislature praised Dart for its foam recycling efforts in a joint resolution passed in 1991. Recurring dumpster rental for your business. However, this company offers a convenient program where you can mail your leftover styrofoam to them for recycling. With municipalities up and down the country looking to move away from Styrofoam products, and in some instances, outright banning them, it falls into the hands of businesses to seek out alternatives to help move forward in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way. It simply doesn't make sense to us that polystyrene has only one life before it ends up in a landfill. But it doesn't all have to end up in a landfill. Furthermore, as you have probably already noticed, disregarded pieces of Styrofoam can be found in the outdoors all the time. When recycling foam materials like expanded polyethylene and polypropylene, economical transportation is often a major issue that can make or break a recycling program. Rubicon’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, guide to understanding plastic recycling codes, Styrofoam Recycling Solutions for Your Business. Ensuring that what can be recycled, will be recycled. Remember that almost all Styrofoam food containers, cups, and plates are considered trash due to … The places that do accept styrofoam for recycling require that the product is clean of any dirt or food Styrofoam, or expanded polystyrene, of any kind cannot be recycled. Six steps to successful recycling and waste reduction. In fact, it's one of the hardest materials to recycle besides VHS tapes and cassette tapes. Dart works with hundreds of public schools, 5 state universities, and the State of Michigan to recycle all types of foam … Yes. Polystyrene products are recyclable and are marked with the recyclable number "6". EPS recycling is a great way to cut overhead on manufacturing new polystyrene products, and recycled EPS foam can be molded into a wide range of goods. Your Styrofoam will be recycled into a host of different products including fireproofing material, picture frames, decorative moldings and more. 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. The answer as to can I put polystyrene in my recycle bin is a bit different and depends on the type of polystyrene. Typically, food containers and egg cartons cannot be recycled, even at the appropriate drop-off locations. In addition, you can call your local recycling center and see if they accept styrofoam. Polystyrene comes in two forms: solid and foamed. Actual “Styrofoam” was created in 1941 by the Dow Chemical Company and is almost exclusively used in construction, for floating docks and sometimes for floral arrangements, it is … This code identifies the type of plastic the product is - not if it can be recycled. Meredith Leahy is a Waste Diversion Manager at Rubicon. The best way to reduce styrofoam waste is by trying to purchase products from companies that avoid using it. Recycling foam #6 reduces solid waste and creates a market for new items we use every day in and around our homes. Polystyrene is a common plastic that can be identified by resin code #6. NYC artist creates giant Hummer using recycled Styrofoam. View storage solutions here… Check with local grocery stores as well since some of them, especially Publix, have Styrofoam drop-offs available. Typically, those undertaking Styrofoam recycling have done so by operating at a loss — spending around $1,000 to recoup $200 worth of Styrofoam. Your email address will not be published. Learn more about how your organization can get started with EPS foam recycling online today at Foam Equipment & Consulting. See more ideas about styrofoam recycling, styrofoam, papercrete. 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 costs more to recycle the product than the facilities can make from it in return. 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. Rather than adding more to already-strained landfills, I decided to look for places where styrofoam can be recycled. STYROFOAM RECYCLING PILOT PROGRAM 1. (screaming, Noooooo! Styrofoam products have the tendency of easily breaking apart into small pieces making it a choke hazard to animals. Submit Cancel. Building users collect Styrofoam in designated location within building 2. This method is highly effective when it comes to packaging materials. Keeping these recycling rules and specifications in mind is crucial. Software helping businesses manage waste in the smartest way possible. In our home state of Michigan, Dart has built a comprehensive infrastructure for recycling foam products. This is the one that’s commonly found in takeaway food containers, coffee … Styrofoam (AKA polystyrene) falls into a grey area when it comes to recycling. It can then go on to create other EPS products. Markham residents can drop off clean Styrofoam at any Markham Recycling Depot. Styrofoam Recycling in Madison, OH. Does recycling Styrofoam work? Take a look at this guide to understanding plastic recycling codes.). Browse waste and recycling solutions by industry. The recycling Styrofoam project did work. 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. Browse waste and recycling solutions by waste stream. This can lead to choking, digestive blockages, and ultimately starvation. Please explain what could be improved. Make sure you only place white Styrofoam (EPS) in the bulk bags without any tape or sticker contamination. Since polystyrene requires virgin material (i.e., oil) to manufacture, the ability to recycle it into other polystyrene products is significant. [ 1] I Each location has its own set of requirements. 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. Styrofoam can be recycled at Eco Development in Mason. Let’s learn more about this product and the harm it can have on the environment. No. Custodial staff brings bagged Styrofoam to loading dock 3. 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. Dumpster rental for projects large and small. Look for the triangular recycling symbol on your Styrofoam. Garbage; Bulky objects and construction materials; Did you find what you need? Solve global waste challenges with our software. *Foam recycling is often mistakenly referred to as Styrofoam® recycling. Styrofoam is made from petroleum, which is a nonrenewable resource. 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. Then it is transported to various industries. If you’d like to learn more about recycling, check out our posts tagged recycling! Additionally, Styrofoam that is contaminated with food, drink, or other materials may not be suitable for recycling. However, these products are very rarely actually recycled. And as with most plastics, traditional styrofoam recycling is not actually a cycle. It tends to be cheaper to produce new polystyrene products from used ones. 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. Imagine what the world would be like if we could all start doing crazy … But the name styrofoam is colloquially applied to expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. The shredded foam is then transferred to extruders where they are molded into sheets using heat and pressure. We recycle glass, paper, plastic, so why not Styrofoam? Are you purpose-driven and passionate? The full scale recycled Styrofoam race car is an exact replica of the actual car and it is affordable. Software helping U.S. companies stay on top of their local, state, and federal regulatory and compliance obligations across their entire business. 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. CARDBOARD/PAPER RECYCLING. Remember that … Join our mission. The Impact of Styrofoam on the Environment, Facts and Statistics about Styrofoam and Its Use, click here to be directed to recycling resources, 10 Best Heavy Duty Camping Chairs Available Now, Top 5 Causes of Environmental Degradation and How to Solve It, 8 Best Ultralight Camping Chairs Available Now, Americans use enough styrofoam products every year to go around the earth, Styrofoam products use about 30 percent of landfill space, Styrofoam is recyclable as long as it has the recycling number 6 on it, More than 118 million pounds of plastic foam was recycled in 2018.