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Recycling Styrofoam Coffee Cups

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Date: 08/02/2002 Topic: Readers Request > Recycling  
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I recycle everything I can, except I cannot find anyone who will take the stryofoam coffee cups from the fast food restaurants. I usually have 5 to 7 per week. I don't want to fill up the our landfills if they can be recycled. On the bottom of the cup is the recycle sign with a "6" in the center and "PS" underneath. Any help? I live in Atlanta, GA.
-cdolfin
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By BIH (1) Profile Contact
Hey there Atlanta Ga. Still looking for a place to drop -off your #6 styrofoam cups? Don't know if it is near you or not but there is a Dart drop-off in Lithonia, GA. In other states there are drop-off programs at Dart in Leola, PA; Mason, MI; Plant City, FL; Corona & Lodi, CA. For more foam recycling locations go to www.earth911.com and search for "Styrofoam"

Posted on 10/10/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Crocket (Guest Post)
Think about this folks. Styrofoam is a petroleum product. It can be dissolved with other petroleum products like gasoline, motor oil, etc. then mixed in with your waste oils and sent to recycling.

Posted on 02/23/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Recycle Freak (Guest Post)
I lived in the Atlanta area for a while and found that Publix had a collection bin for styrofoam meat trays. It was located right outside the front entrance with the plastic bag bin and paper bag bins. Hope that helps.

Posted on 02/20/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Michael A. (Guest Post)
http://earth911.com/
at this site you can type in where you live and what you want to recycle and it will tell you the nearest place to recycle it is!

Posted on 01/28/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By John H. (Guest Post)
To George Linton:
If you can find a willing farmer nearby a grinder/mixer with a half inch or less screen will reduce your EPS to a granular size.

Posted on 01/07/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Karen from KCMO (Guest Post)
DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT MELT or throw THE STYROFOAM into a fire BECAUSE THE CHEMICALS WILL GET RELEASED INTO OUR AIR! Just break it up.

And BTW, to Microwave is also Heat. It is the same thing.

Posted on 11/03/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Aaron (Guest Post)
No one will take them, they are considered contaminated with food waste, just like take out boxes from restaurants. I dont know where you live and it could be different, but I think its hopeless for styrofoam used for food products."

Posted on 10/02/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Cookiesky (18) Profile Contact
Is it possible to shred the styrofoam cups in your paper shredder? If so then that product may be used in your potted plants to keep them areated.

Posted on 08/26/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Diane (Guest Post)
I am so glad to see folks like myself that hate putting things in the land fill. Thanks for the help on finding a place that will recycle Styrofoam Packing. I found a local place from the http://www.epspackaging.org/info.html website.
Thanks for the ideas and help with this issue.

Posted on 08/19/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Anthony (Guest Post)
I'm a graphic artist and have found many uses for styrofoam for artwork. I have read your comment about ways to recycle styrofoam. I had this long time though about dissolving styrofoam and shaping the dissolved product into figurines or sculpture by using molds and harden them before painting or decorating them. This will help reduce the quantity of styrofoam around because it will take a lot of it to dissolve to come up with a bucket of the solute which you then shape into a mold. The resulting product will be sturdier and heavier and won't be thrown into landfills because they'd be put up in homes as pieces of art.

Posted on 08/07/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Sheila (Guest Post)
Why don't you take your own travel coffee cup and ask the restaurant to fill it up instead of using ANY styrofoam cups???!

The only places I've found to recycle styrofoam are ones that require you to send your materials through the mail.

Posted on 07/28/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By (Guest Post)
Hi. As far as I know styrofoam cannot be recycled. I discovered this recently myself.

Posted on 07/24/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By idea (Guest Post)
What about buying a reusable coffee mug?

Posted on 07/17/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By emfetz (Guest Post)
I think that is a good good question. For one thing, the "ps" on the bottom of the cup stands for poly-styrene which is a plastic recycle number 6. To find a recycling station in or around your area, you can use the recycle finder on the earth 911 site here: http://earth911.org/blog/2008/06/09 ... oam-recycling-event-in-salem-oregon/ Other than trying to find a way to melt it down, try re-using it in a flower pot or elsewhere. If it was toxic, that would be great; people would use alternatives!
YOPWdude

yopwhome.googlepages.com

Posted on 07/16/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Nellie (Guest Post)
I love the ideas here! Our school is recycling and the new year is about to begin so we will be receiving new supplies with lots of peanuts! And we do gardening, so I can't wait to use the tiny pieces in the pots and take the rest to the UPS Store.

Posted on 07/15/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By .Linda (Guest Post)
Can schools recycle their millions of styrofoam trays that land in the landfills? Is it illegal to incinerate styrofoam?
Linda lindybowers AT aol.com

Posted on 03/30/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Kat (Guest Post)
I found a co. in Florida that sells machines that will break down the Styrofoam into poly gel which is salable at $.47-$.79 a lbs. Obviously this isn't for individual use, but I work at a co. and I'm hoping to sell them on the idea. Several colleges have started to use them. Its pretty interesting. Co. name is International Foam Solutions, Inc.

Posted on 03/27/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By debb (Guest Post)
Thanks Grandma Margie for the UPS Store tip. I just called our local UPS store and they DO take styrofoam "peanuts". Yeah! I have bags of them that I am dying to get rid of. Thanks again!

Posted on 03/05/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Michael (Guest Post)
If you bring your coffee mug into McDonald's, Starbucks, gas stations, etc, they will gladly fill it, thus eliminating the need to recycle the styrofoam.

Posted on 02/25/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By david tripp (Guest Post)
Yeah. Sonic a restaurant I recently went to uses Styrofoam cups. I won't go there because of it. I can get a hamburger some place else!

Posted on 01/27/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Paleogrants (Guest Post)
Hey! I found a place that will recycle clean #6 polystyrene! The below directions are from their website - http://www.epspackaging.org/info.html

"Expanded polystyrene can be mailed via U.S. Postal Service or other carrier to:

Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers
1298 Cronson Boulevard, Suite 201
Crofton, MD 21114 USA

Shipping fees typically range from $1.50-$9.00 depending on the size of the package.

1. Make sure the expanded polystyrene is clean and free of any plastic film, loose parts or glued-on cardboard.
2. To increase the amount of expanded polystyrene in each shipping container, it can be broken or cut into smaller pieces so that more foam can fit in individual boxes.
3. Alliance of Foam Packaging does not accept extruded polystyrene foam including meat trays, cups, egg cartons or other disposable foodservice items for recycling.
4. Expanded polystyrene can be identified by the number 6 plastic resin identification code. Many types of foam plastic are not clearly marked; if you have questions please contact Alliance of Foam Packaging at (410) 451-8340."

Posted on 09/20/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Paleogrants (Guest Post)
Unfortunately, I just called Poly Foam (listed above) regarding recycling #6 styrofoam, and I was told they don't do that (20 Sept 07). I'm still looking, and will post if I find anything.

Posted on 09/20/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Joan (Guest Post)
I would suggest re-using your own cup rather than taking a styrofoam cup from the restaurant.

Posted on 06/26/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Elizabeth (Guest Post)
Have you ever thought of taking in your own cup? Just a suggestion.

Posted on 06/17/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Grandma Margie (176) Contact
In my area we have The UPS Store. This store will pack and ship items for the public, for a fee of course. They also offer other services .....which you can read about when you google "The UPS Store".

Don't confuse them with the UPS location where all the brown trucks congregate and get loaded and unloaded every morning and night!

The UPS Store will accept recycled styrofoam "peanuts" which they use when packing fragile items.

I save all the "peanuts" that come in items shipped to me. When we occasionally buy an electronic product that has the large styrofoam "chunks", that are molded to fit around fragile items, I save those too. When I take a TV break I grab some of the larger molded pieces and a paper bag or box and start breaking the styrofoam into small, peanut sized pieces. (It's actually good therapy/exercise for my arthritic hands!) I just add these small pieces to the regular "peanuts". I keep all these in a large plastic trash can lined with a big garbage bag. When the bag is full I drop it off at The UPS Store. They have always been happy to get them.

Posted on 06/08/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Vanessa (Guest Post)
I am also trying to find somewhere i can recycle my styrofoam only i have styrofoam in all shapes and sizes.

Posted on 06/07/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Foamy (Guest Post)
If you have any "bean bag" chairs or dog beds that have gone flat -- a peek inside will show you that most are filled with styrofoam bits.

Unzip the chair (carefully...this stuff will fly all over) and top the chair off with packing peanuts, small chunks of solid styrofoam or cleaned and shredded cups. Nice and cushy again

Posted on 05/25/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By John Comeau (Guest Post)
You might also find my article at WikiHow.com useful. Search it for "recycle styrofoam". It's something we can all do at home, too -- jc

Posted on 05/10/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Starchild in VT (171) Profile Contact
First off...I LOVE THAT YOU RECYCLE ALL THAT YOU CAN!!!! I feel that people who don't recycle are a little inconsiderate(sorry everyone, but at least I am not a guest post so you can contact me to put me in my place). I was at Perkins School for the Blind for a conference this week(my son has CVI) and I did notice they recycled styrofoam, I was so excited! Is there a website of where to bring the foam in your state or should I just put it in my bags of recycling? Thanks everyone.

Posted on 04/29/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Karen (Guest Post)
On Oprah last week, they talked about this very thing. They suggested purchasing an insulated coffee thermos and bringing it to Starbucks or wherever you buy your coffee. Oftentimes, they said they will give customers a discount for using their own thermos!

Posted on 04/28/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Geraldine (Guest Post)
Styrofoam can now be recycled. They are being boiled with the dirty grease at 600F & molded to make flower pots of any shape you want & it will be durable.

They discovered this in the Phil.

Posted on 09/05/2006 | Report Spam or Abuse

By cantspell (Guest Post)
it is rumared that heating styrofoam in contact with food
products may be unhealthy, styrofoam is made from
benzene a carcinagin. styrofoam is stable,
but what happens when microwaved?
what about a reusable, spill proof cup?
packing peanuts can be reused over and over again
try www.propakinc.con

Posted on 04/10/2006 | Report Spam or Abuse

By anthon (Guest Post)
how do you degrade styrofoams? what process do you use

Posted on 06/26/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse

By daniel kravitz (Guest Post)
propakinc.com recycles clean packing peanuts, bubble pack and water bottles in closed containers

Posted on 03/16/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse

By A Friend (Guest Post)
The number six on your cups means they are Expanded Polystryene #6 Styrofoam. You're in luck, this is the kind that can be easily recycled.

Mail the Styrofoam to:

Poly Foam
Attn: Scrap Recycle
955 S. Woodland
Michigan City, IN 46360
219-879-8618

Make sure they're clean first!

Posted on 03/15/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse

By (Guest Post)
Buy your own Coffee Cup and have it filled instead

Posted on 01/31/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse

By George Linton (Guest Post)
anyone suggest how to grind styrofoam into small granules 1/8" ? it makes wonderful adjuvent to heavy clay soils in gardens potting sheds etc,
George Linton

Posted on 12/05/2004 | Report Spam or Abuse

By William Young (Guest Post)
I am in the Atlanat Metro area, and looking for someplace to recycle styrofoam packing material.

Posted on 07/13/2004 | Report Spam or Abuse

By badwater (749) Contact
You can use the styrofoam cups for starting seedlings for gardens, planters, or flowerpots. You could also start the seedlings to sell at yard sales or to give as cheap gifts, if you have houseplants. I've bought small plants like that at rummage sales. Someone had a plant that was getting too large for her apartment, they said. This was her donation for the church rummage sale. What a neat idea, I thought!

Posted on 01/22/2003 | Report Spam or Abuse

By chunkychow (2) Contact
In my city, Publix grocery stores recycle styrofoam.

Posted on 09/08/2002 | Report Spam or Abuse

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