Home |  Index |  Submit Request |  Share Photos |  Share Tips |  Active Topics |  New Feedback  |  Contact Us  |  Search
 User Login:  Username:    Password:      Forgot It?  | Join ThriftyFun!

 Popular Topics
 - Beauty
 - Budget and Finance
 - Christmas *
 - Cleaning
 - Consumer Advice
 - Craft Projects
 - Craft Tips
 - Food Tips
 - Garage Sales
 - Gardening
 - Gifts
 - Green Living
 - Home Improvement
 - Organizing
 - Parenting
 - Parties
 - Pest Control
 - Pets
 - Product Reviews
 - Recipes
 - Repair
 - Thanksgiving
 - Weddings for Less

More Topics

Google Search:

Web thriftyfun.com

About:
RSS Feed
About Us
Media
Advertising
Contact Us
Privacy Statement
Disclaimer

Recycling Styrofoam Coffee Cups

1x1
Date: 08/02/2002 Topic: Readers Request > Recycling  
1x1
1x1
Post Feedback! | Email Friend | Print | Get Responses | Bookmark | del.icio.us | Link | Rate: Thumbs Up Thumbs Down
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
Jump to Feedback | Post feedback
Related Links:
Previous: Hanging Lights ThriftyFun Next: My 11 year old just received a CREDIT CARD!!!
1x1
 Feedback
1x1
1x1
1x1
1x1
 Sponsors
1x1
1x1

Post by Cookiesky (1) | (08/26/2008)
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.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Diane (Guest Post) (08/19/2008)
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.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Anthony (Guest Post) (08/07/2008)
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.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Sheila (Guest Post) (07/28/2008)
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.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By (Guest Post) (07/24/2008)
Hi. As far as I know styrofoam cannot be recycled. I discovered this recently myself.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By idea (Guest Post) (07/17/2008)
What about buying a reusable coffee mug?

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By emfetz (Guest Post) (07/16/2008)
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

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Nellie (Guest Post) (07/15/2008)
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.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By .Linda (Guest Post) (03/30/2008)
Can schools recycle their millions of styrofoam trays that land in the landfills? Is it illegal to incinerate styrofoam?
Linda lindybowers AT aol.com

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Kat (Guest Post) (03/27/2008)
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.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By debb (Guest Post) (03/05/2008)
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!

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Michael (Guest Post) (02/25/2008)
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.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By david tripp (Guest Post) (01/27/2008)
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!

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Paleogrants (Guest Post) (09/20/2007)
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."

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Paleogrants (Guest Post) (09/20/2007)
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.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Joan (Guest Post) (06/26/2007)
I would suggest re-using your own cup rather than taking a styrofoam cup from the restaurant.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Elizabeth (Guest Post) (06/17/2007)
Have you ever thought of taking in your own cup? Just a suggestion.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post by Grandma Margie (162) | (06/08/2007)
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.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Vanessa (Guest Post) (06/07/2007)
I am also trying to find somewhere i can recycle my styrofoam only i have styrofoam in all shapes and sizes.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Foamy (Guest Post) (05/25/2007)
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

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By John Comeau (Guest Post) (05/10/2007)
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

Report Spam or Abuse


Post by Starchild in VT (109) | (04/29/2007)
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.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Karen (Guest Post) (04/28/2007)
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!

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By Geraldine (Guest Post) (09/05/2006)
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.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By cantspell (Guest Post) (04/10/2006)
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

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By anthon (Guest Post) (06/26/2005)
how do you degrade styrofoams? what process do you use

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By daniel kravitz (Guest Post) (03/16/2005)
propakinc.com recycles clean packing peanuts, bubble pack and water bottles in closed containers

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By A Friend (Guest Post) (03/15/2005)
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!

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By (Guest Post) (01/31/2005)
Buy your own Coffee Cup and have it filled instead

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By George Linton (Guest Post) (12/05/2004)
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

Report Spam or Abuse


Post By William Young (Guest Post) (07/13/2004)
I am in the Atlanat Metro area, and looking for someplace to recycle styrofoam packing material.

Report Spam or Abuse


Post by badwater (744) | (01/22/2003)
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!

Report Spam or Abuse


Post by chunkychow (2) | (09/08/2002)
Contact
In my city, Publix grocery stores recycle styrofoam.

Report Spam or Abuse


1x1

Post Feedback:
Login using the form on the top of the page to post feedback if you have registered with ThriftyFun. If you have not yet registered, click here. It's FREE!. If you are not registered you can post feedback as a guest below. Please don't use your email address for your name because spam robots can dredge it from our site. Please do not post your feedback more than ONCE. We need to approve all guest feedback and it may take from minutes to hours for that to happen.
(1x1 graphic )
Your Name

Subject

Feedback

text tool text tool text tool text tool

Image Upload: Add an image to your post! Click the "Browse" button below and select an image from your hard drive. Please only select gifs or jpegs. If you have any problems, just email the image to images@thriftyfun.com

  

If you want to post your email address for responses from readers, obscure it in some way like put spaces between the name and @ sign and service address with (remove spaces) behind it or name (at) server (dot) com . This is for your protection from those creepy Robots.

(1x1 graphic )

© 1997-2008 ThriftyFun.com - Design by Cumuli Design
Disclaimer: ThriftyFun.com cannot accept any responsibility for any injury or damage that you may cause to yourself, others, or property when following any advice given on this site. Read the full disclaimer. If you find any information on ThriftyFun.com or in our newsletters that is either erroneous and/or potentially harmful to others, please Contact Us, immediately.