Recycling Polystyrene and Expanded Polystyrene

[Omaha Steve]

Published on Oct 10, 2014
Todd Sutton, the Waste Sleuth, investigates the recycling of the #6 plastics. His conclusions? PS and EPS are highly recyclable, even in curbside programs, and the demand from manufacturers who use the recycled material to make new products exceeds the current supply.

[passiveporcupine]

1. We have a good recycling program here,

and it is always getting better (taking new product), but still no Styrofoam. I hate having to buy anything that comes with Styrofoam packaging, especially food trays. But big blocks in shipping heavy items can be really bad too. It all has to go to the transfer station here, where it ends up in a land fill. They can do more than picture frames with this waste. It's good to see somebody is processing it.

[Omaha Steve]

2. it is a 40 minute trip for us one way

I just found out about it today. We will save up and load up when we go. One of our favorite restaurants is right there. Bonus!

[passiveporcupine]

3. I can't drive far enough (200 miles or more, round trip) to find a place that will take it.

And I have no place to store it at home, even if I could. I'll just have to wait until it happens here too.

[TonyPDX]

4. Here in Portland OR, Far West Fibers on Denny Road accepts polystyrene in blocks

but won't accept foam "peanuts."