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#6 Block Foam Recycling
Eco-Cycle is now accepting white block foam packaging* at the CHaRM at 5030 "old" Pearl St. in Boulder, Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., along with our other regularly accepted materials such as electronic equipment, plastic bags, books, and textiles. Please visit the CHaRM page for more details, including fees.
*You may know this material best as Styrofoam, but Styrofoam is a registered trademark of Dow Chemical that refers to blue foam insulation. |
| YES, WE CAN ACCEPT: |
#6 CLEAN WHITE BLOCK FOAM
(typically used to pack computers, TVs, wine, etc.)
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and RIGID WHITE FOAM INSULATION
(typically used around building foundations)
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| WE CANNOT ACCEPT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS: |
NO
- Food-grade packaging (to-go containers, meat trays, disposable cups, etc.)
- Packing peanuts*
- Bubble wrap*
- Any foam other than #6
- Foam with tape or moisture
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*Packing peanuts and bubble wrap are usually accepted for reuse at packaging stores. Call your local store or view a list of locations. We do not know of any local recycling options for polystyrene food packaging.
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Avoiding White Foam Products
Though Eco-Cycle recycles white block foam, we consider this to be just a small milestone in light of a larger problem. What we’d really like to see happen is for the nasty white stuff to disappear altogether – in block, “peanut” and food-grade forms. Food-grade foam products pose a particular challenge. There is currently no market for them in terms of recycling, and no way to reuse them. Their effects on humans and the environment are many:
- Food packaging is one path of exposure to styrene, a possible carcinogen. Styrene may be ingested through food as a result of leaching from food packaging or contact materials. Styrene exposure may cause nervous system effects such as depression, muscle weakness, nausea, and nose, eye, and throat irritation. Populations at high risk for styrene exposure include styrene industry workers, smokers, and people eating a high concentration of foods packaged in polystyrene.
- Food-grade foam products are designed to be used once and then thrown into the landfill where they do not biodegrade—ever.
- Some foam products use blowing agents such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are powerful greenhouse gases, in some cases several thousand times more potent than carbon dioxide.
- All foam packaging is made from non-renewable petroleum products.
With these facts in mind, Eco-Cycle suggests that folks do what they can to avoid purchasing food products packaged in white foam. We’ve offered some suggestions below for how to just that. And as for the block stuff? We’ve got a few tips for handling that, too. With your help, we can make white foam obsolete!
How to avoid food-grade foam products:
- Buy reusable and recyclable containers and packaging.
- Avoid products that are unnecessarily packaged in food-grade foam products, such as instant soup. Instead, buy a can of soup, which is 100% recyclable.
- Buy meat directly from the butcher to avoid foam meat trays.
- Instead of foam egg cartons, buy eggs packed in recyclable paper cartons.
- When going out to eat, bring your own reusable container for your leftovers.
- Carry a reusable mug or cup for coffee, juice or smoothies.
- Tell others what you think. The more of us who refuse the stuff, the quicker we can phase it out.
How to make block foam packaging obsolete:
- Make your voice heard by purchasing products with eco-friendly packaging, like molded paperboard.
- Write a letter to express your concerns about foam packaging and your preference for safer alternatives. View a sample letter.
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