𝗦𝘁𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗼𝗮𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 as of July 2022: Due to extensive program costs, aging equipment, staffing challenges and limited recycling markets, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue our styrofoam collection program. We will no longer accept styrofoam for recycling at the Buyea Road Residential Station. Moving forward, please place all bulky styrofoam packaging in the garbage along with your styrofoam cups, plates, egg cartons and packaging peanuts as these materials cannot be recycled. Thank you for your understanding.

Styrofoam Facts:

• Expanded Polystrene (EPS) foam, aka Styrofoam is typically coded as #6 plastic. Because of its light weight but bulky volume (about 2% of the foam is polystyrene and the rest is air), it is hard to recycle and is not economically feasible to transport long distances for recycling.
• While there are some markets for clean, white bulky packaging foam, there are several challenges in recycling the material such as collecting and sorting enough clean volume, storing the foam until ready to densify, and then palletizing enough material in order to create a full truck load for efficient hauling.
• GOOD NEWS: New York’s Foam Ban started January 1, 2022. Under the new Foam Container and Loose Fill Packaging Ban, restaurants and stores are no longer allowed to sell certain expanded polystyrene foam (also known as styrofoam) containers in New York. These items include styrofoam bowls, clamshell containers, cups, plates and trays. These materials were often contaminated with food and liquids, making them hard to recycle and they do not readily biodegrade. In addition, styrofoam packaging peanuts are no longer sold in New York State.
  • For more information on the ban and what it covers, visit: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/120762.html
  • With the Foam Ban, we will start to see less styrofoam material in the waste stream. Other companies are also choosing to move away from styrofoam packaging by using starch-based alternatives and paper molded packaging.