The widespread confusion surrounding the recyclability of the white foam commonly called “Styrofoam” is understandable, stemming from its complex material science and the limitations of local waste management systems. While it is technically a recyclable plastic, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam is rarely accepted in standard residential curbside programs. Recycling EPS requires specialized infrastructure and dedicated collection efforts that are not yet universally available to the average consumer. Understanding the material’s composition and the logistics of its collection reveals why this material presents such a unique challenge to the recycling industry.
What Exactly is Styrofoam
The material most people identify as Styrofoam is actually Expanded Polystyrene, or EPS, a lightweight, rigid plastic foam. Styrofoam itself is a trademarked brand name for a denser, blue or pink extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam primarily used in construction insulation. However, the white foam used for protective packaging, disposable coolers, and food containers is EPS, which is a thermoplastic derived from petroleum.
This material is essentially Polystyrene, designated by the Resin Identification Code 6 (PS). The foam’s structure is its defining characteristic, as it is composed of up to 98% trapped air within a polymer matrix. This composition provides excellent thermal insulation and shock absorption, making it highly effective for shipping fragile goods and maintaining temperatures.
The Curbside Confusion
The primary obstacle preventing EPS from being accepted in standard curbside recycling bins is rooted in its unique physical properties and the economics of transportation. Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) are not equipped to handle a material that is mostly air. The massive volume-to-weight ratio of EPS makes it extremely inefficient and expensive to collect and transport.
A truckload of un-densified EPS foam contains so little actual plastic that it is not economically viable to ship to a processing facility. This logistics problem is compounded by contamination, as EPS easily absorbs liquids, grease, and food residue, making it undesirable for processing unless perfectly cleaned. Furthermore, the cost of processing the material often outweighs the value of the recovered Polystyrene resin, discouraging investment in the necessary collection infrastructure.
Specialized Recycling Methods
Successful recycling of Expanded Polystyrene relies on specialized infrastructure designed to reverse its low-density state. The process starts by collecting clean, dry EPS at dedicated drop-off locations, which may be run by manufacturers, municipalities, or private companies. Once collected, the foam must undergo densification, which removes the air and compresses the material into a solid form.
Densification can be achieved through mechanical compression or thermal melting. Mechanical densifiers crush the foam into dense blocks, while thermal densifiers use heat to melt the material into a molten mass that is then extruded into compact logs or ingots. This process can reduce the foam’s volume by a ratio of up to 90-to-1, making it cost-effective to transport to recyclers. The resulting dense plastic is then pelletized and sold to manufacturers who use the recycled Polystyrene to create durable new products.
Specific recycling opportunities often involve mail-back programs, such as those coordinated by the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers (AFPR), which allow consumers to ship clean, protective packaging back to a central processor. Large manufacturers like Dart Container also operate public drop-off sites across the United States, accepting various forms of clean EPS foam including cups, egg cartons, and protective packaging. These specialized programs provide the only viable pathway for consumers to recycle EPS, bypassing the limitations of standard municipal systems.
Responsible Disposal Alternatives
When no specialized recycling options are available locally, there are two primary alternatives for handling EPS. Clean Expanded Polystyrene, such as packing peanuts or protective blocks, can often be reused for their original purpose. Many local shipping stores or businesses that frequently send packages will accept clean packing peanuts for reuse.
If reuse is not possible, the final step for EPS is proper disposal in the regular trash stream. Because Polystyrene is not biodegradable, it will remain in a landfill for hundreds of years, but this is the necessary choice when specialized recycling is absent. Throwing the material in the regular trash prevents it from contaminating a recycling stream intended for other types of plastic, ensuring those materials can be successfully processed.