Technically, styrene is a petroleum by-product made from chemicals that may be carcinogenic. Foam polystyrene can be made up of up to 95% air and is perfect as a lightweight, protective packaging material. The polystyrene material we are most commonly familiar with is, of course, the Styrofoam used in packaging and foodservice. The expanded polystyrene, referred to as EPS, most are familiar with is not actually Styrofoam at all.
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 usually light blue and not white. Styrofoam is a highly versatile plastic used for everything from surfboards to electronics.
#Where to recycle styrofoam near me how to#
What is Styrofoam or Polystyrene foam?īefore we get into where and how to recycle Styrofoam, it may help to understand exactly what Styrofoam or expanded polystyrene is. Plastic #6/Styrofoam itself is challenging to recycle, adding to the issue most household Styrofoam is contaminated with food and oils making it unable to be recycled. While Styrofoam, otherwise known as polystyrene, is accepted at a few recycling facilities, this isn’t the case for most municipal recycling centers.
So is Styrofoam recyclable? The short answer is…sometimes.
However, this is not the right course of action for many reasons. This is a common question, and many well-intentioned folks toss their Styrofoam food containers into their curbside recycling bins. How Can I Reduce Styrofoam Usage? Can You Recycle Styrofoam?.
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