Many residents want to play a role in reducing waste and recycling more. And many try to avoid plastic foam packaging — also known as Styrofoam or polystyrene — by choosing egg cartons made of hard plastic or cardboard or by using a reusable coffee cup rather than grabbing a Styrofoam cup.
Fort Worth residents now have the opportunity to recycle items made of Styrofoam at any one of the four drop-off stations.
Why isn’t plastic foam recyclable in my blue cart? Plastic foam will break into very small pieces in the truck before it reaches the sorting facility. Once it’s broken into small pieces, it’s nearly impossible to contain and sort into recycling.
How does Styrofoam recycling work? Styrofoam is densified by being shredded, then compacted into logs called gaylords. These logs are palletized and shipped off to be recycled into items like crown molding and picture frames.
What kinds of plastic foam are accepted?
- Cups, coolers and foam ice chests.
- Egg cartons.
- Rigid packaging such as Styrofoam used for shipping and packing electronics and other items.
- To-go clamshell containers used for food items.
What is not accepted?
- Peanuts.
- Colored, dyed or treated Styrofoam.
- Construction/siding foam.
- Meat and food trays.
- Flexible packing sheets.
- Plastic or paper containers.
And remember: empty, clean and dry. No items contaminated with food, grease or stains.