Monday, September 8, 2008

Styrofoam CAN be recycled - but it's not easy.

So tonight as I was cleaning up from another put-it-together project, I was trying to cram the Styrofoam packaging into the trash because "everyone knows it can't be recycled and it's just a sad fact, and save the tears for the whales"...right? WRONG!

After much searching it seems everyone is in search of a recycling center that accepts the static-y white stuff. Lo and behold I found The Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers! And they are located in my home state of Maryland!


And the excitement stops there.


It seems the Alliance with all their muscle can't even get a drop-off location for Styrofoam recycling IN the state where it's located.

They offer some nice suggestions for mailing the packaging material to the centers that accept it by mail. But I can't image the cost for the box and postage for the huge chunks of Styrofoam...even if they weigh less than a pound. Plus, it seems silly to mail shipping material. I should just hold onto it until that next fragile package - right?

Plus, some of you live nearby a Styrofoam drop-off location! To see if you do check out the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers website and download the .pdf file. And then take advantage of it!

Lost in the foam,
Janine