How to Dispose of Styrofoam

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Easy ways to shrink, recycle, dissolve, and reuse Styrofoam
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Styrofoam is the household brand name for EPS (extended polystyrene), a kind of plastic. EPS is recyclable, but it’s such a pain to transport and recycle it that many local recycling programs won’t take it. As a result, contact your local trash collection service to see if they’ll take it. If recycling isn’t an option, reuse your Styrofoam or repurpose it for creative DIY projects. If all else fails, there’s nothing wrong with putting the Styrofoam in the trash.

How to Get Rid of Styrofoam

Styrofoam is recyclable, but check your local waste management department to see if they’ll collect it before putting it in the recycling bin. If they don’t, either put the Styrofoam in the trash or reuse it for a creative project.

Section 1 of 4:

Can you recycle Styrofoam?

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  1. Despite popular belief, Styrofoam is recyclable. It’s just so lightweight and comes in such big, awkward pieces that most municipal recycling programs won’t pick it up. Find your local trash pickup policy online to determine if they’ll take your Styrofoam. [1]
    • If they won’t pick it up but they will accept Styrofoam at their recycling plants, take it there yourself.
  2. If your foam is dyed, it probably won’t be accepted. Typically, plain white Styrofoam is marked with a triangle, and the number 6 is stamped inside. Any #6 plastic is a polystyrene, which means it is recyclable. [2] Empty, clean, and remove any tape, labels, or plastic film from your styrofoam. [3]
    • 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.
    • One potential variable is packing peanuts. Some recycling centers won’t take them because they tend to fly around in the plant and make a mess. Consider reaching out to a local shipping company to see if they want them!
    • Just FYI, you can’t recycle food containers or used cups and plates. Foam used for medical purposes is also unrecyclable.
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  3. Look for a drop-off site or mail-in location on EPS-IA’s website . Remove any debris, then break the Styrofoam into small pieces. Place the foam in a shipping box if you are mailing it in, and expect to cover the shipping cost yourself (but it should be inexpensive) [4]
    • If you have a truck's worth of recyclable Styrofoam, there might be a fee due to the amount.
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Section 2 of 4:

Throwing Styrofoam Away

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  1. If you have large foam blocks or sheets, cut them into smaller cubes with a utility knife or scissors. If you don’t want any random Styrofoam particles potentially floating around in your home, put the Styrofoam in a large bin or the tub and stomp on it with a thick boot. Collect the pieces by hand and bag them up.
    • Pro-tip: if you use an electric carving knife or a hot knife you can cut through the Styrofoam like butter.
  2. This is what most local agencies not only suggest, but require. [5] Since recycling Styrofoam can be costly, for most, it’s not worthwhile for a lot of recycling programs to pour resources into processing it. [6] Follow guidelines and toss your foam with your everyday trash.
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Section 3 of 4:

Environmentally Safe Disposal Methods

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  1. Mealworms will happily munch down Styrofoam and leave compost behind. If you have a pet that can use some live mealworms or you want to build your own worm farm , purchase some mealworms and set them in a plastic or wood container. Toss your Styrofoam inside and watch the mealworms munch it down over time. [7]
    • If you’re building a worm farm, don’t exclusively feed the mealworms plastic. They can survive on it, but it’s not nutritious. Periodically feed them any food scraps or decaying plant material. [8]
  2. Grab some 100% pure acetone and fill a small container with it. Take your Styrofoam and set it in the container. The acetone will dissolve the plastic slowly. Just make sure you crack a window—the odor of the melting plastic isn’t dangerous or anything, but it can be relatively stinky. [9]
    • You must use pure acetone. The diluted nail polish remover will not work. Just be careful around any open flames—pure acetone is highly flammable.
    • This is an easy option if you don’t have a ton of Styrofoam to get rid of. You may need an unreasonable amount of acetone for larger amounts of Styrofoam.
    • Dispose of the acetone by pouring it into a small metal or glass container. Don’t use plastic, since the acetone will degrade it.
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Section 4 of 4:

Reusing or Upcycling Styrofoam

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  1. Shippers use packing peanuts because they’re good at what they do: protecting items during transit. If you plan to mail packages, try using the peanuts you have. If you don’t need them, donate to a local shipping store. [10]
  2. Styrofoam makes a great material for costumes or decorations because it's lightweight. Create templates on the Styrofoam for desired shapes, then cut them out. Use paint or markers to decorate low-cost but sturdy-looking props and stage backgrounds.
    • Make a magic wand by cutting out a star shape. Poke a hole in the bottom with a pencil. Insert craft glue into the hole, then slide in a wooden dowel for the handle. [11]
    • Use markers or paint to turn a Styrofoam plate into a shining sun.
    • Glue white packing peanuts into the shape of a little igloo. [12]
  3. Using Styrofoam in the base of your planter means you'll use and waste less soil. [13] It also makes for a lighter planter and aids water drainage.
  4. With some effort, you can repurpose Styrofoam into something new to furnish your space. For example, you could build a beautiful garden statue, or cut up pieces to make your own beanbag chair filling. [14]
  5. Keep the Styrofoam until you need some craft glue. When it’s time to glue something, set your Styrofoam out on top of some newspaper and pour a few drops of acetone-based nail polish remover on it. Then, use a cotton swab or wood stirring stick to scoop the softened Styrofoam up. Rub the material on whatever you want to glue and wait for it to cure! [15]
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    What would happen if I burn Styrofoam?
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    Burning Styrofoam releases the dangerous chemical carbon monoxide into the air, which could make you ill or even prove fatal.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/recycling/faq.html
      2. ↑ https://yesstraws.com/blogs/news/types-of-plastic-plastic-numbers-guide
      3. ↑ https://earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-packing-peanuts/
      4. ↑ https://earth911.com/business-policy/recycling-mysteries-styrofoam/
      5. ↑ https://www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/ourservices/recyclingandtrash#!rc-cpage=253207
      6. ↑ https://www.ohswa.org/special-programs/disposal-programs/styrofoam/
      7. ↑ https://news.wsu.edu/news/2020/08/25/styrofoam-eating-mealworms-safe-dinner/
      8. ↑ https://www.sciencealert.com/styrofoam-munching-superworms-could-lead-to-plastic-upcycling
      9. ↑ https://chem.utah.edu/_resources/documents/pdf/undergrad_program/Disappearing%20styrofoam%20no%20pics.pdf
      1. ↑ https://earth911.com/business-policy/recycling-mysteries-styrofoam/
      2. ↑ https://www.parents.com/fun/arts-crafts/kid/styrofoam-kids-crafts/
      3. ↑ https://artsycraftsymom.com/25-recycled-styrofoam-crafts-for-earth-day/
      4. ↑ https://pioneeringthesimplelife.org/2017/04/02/styrofoam-filler-for-planters/
      5. ↑ https://recyclenation.com/2011/05/stuck-styrofoam-recycle-styrofoam/
      6. ↑ https://astrocamp.org/blog/recycling/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Before disposing of Styrofoam, find out if your local recycling service will accept it. If not, you will need to throw the Styrofoam away in the regular trash. Remove any recyclable components from the Styrofoam item, such as cardboard, paper, or recyclable plastic, and put them aside or toss them into the recycle bin. If it’s a large piece of Styrofoam, cut it up into smaller pieces so it will fit easily into your trash container. Put the Styrofoam in your regular dumpster or garbage can. If you are able to recycle Styrofoam in your area, check first that it is clean and free of dyes. Check for the triangular recycling symbol somewhere on the Styrofoam. If you’re not sure how to recycle the Styrofoam, check with your local recycling authority to find out if they will pick it up or if you need to drop it off somewhere. They might also specify what types of Styrofoam items they will take, such as clean egg cartons or food trays. If you can’t recycle locally, check the EPS-IA’s website for a mail-in location where you can send your Styrofoam. You can also reuse clean Styrofoam for arts and crafts or packing material.

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      • Sarah Schoonmaker

        Dec 2, 2020

        "Never thought about how burning Styrofoam would put off harmful carbon monoxide that could kill you! Thank you! We ..." more
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