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dara · **Posted: 29-04-2013 , 02:28 PM** #30

Hi

I would have to say in the strongest possible terms that styrofoam should NOT be packed between joists in the attic as insulation- it would be extremely dangerous in terms of fire risk. Ironically, cavity wall insulation is made from styrofoam also, but crucially it is pumped between the the block layers in the wall or into the cavities in cavity blocks.

In terms of recycling, styrofoam is actually very recyclable (and here is the important bit)- once it can be reduced in bulk. The technical name for the packaging is EPS- expanded polystyrene. The "expanded" part is why it is used as a packaging material. Some recycling centres such as the one at Silliot Hill near Kilcullen (http://www.oxigen.ie/Kildare-Amenity...recycling.html) do take it. They have a special compactor that turns it from EPS to plain old PS, just by using pressure. The resultant "brick" is much more economical to transport and therfore to recycle. I think one of the issues for the recyclers is that it takes up so much space for it's weight that it is relatively labour-intense and so they don't promote the fact that they can recycle it.

	Posted: 29-04-2013 , 02:28 PM #30
dara Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bog of Allen Posts: 9	Hi I would have to say in the strongest possible terms that styrofoam should NOT be packed between joists in the attic as insulation- it would be extremely dangerous in terms of fire risk. Ironically, cavity wall insulation is made from styrofoam also, but crucially it is pumped between the the block layers in the wall or into the cavities in cavity blocks. In terms of recycling, styrofoam is actually very recyclable (and here is the important bit)- once it can be reduced in bulk. The technical name for the packaging is EPS- expanded polystyrene. The "expanded" part is why it is used as a packaging material. Some recycling centres such as the one at Silliot Hill near Kilcullen (http://www.oxigen.ie/Kildare-Amenity...recycling.html) do take it. They have a special compactor that turns it from EPS to plain old PS, just by using pressure. The resultant "brick" is much more economical to transport and therfore to recycle. I think one of the issues for the recyclers is that it takes up so much space for it's weight that it is relatively labour-intense and so they don't promote the fact that they can recycle it.