Is Styrofoam Recyclable? [Archive]

Marathon Man

30-12-2008, 12:31 PM

elbo

30-12-2008, 12:41 PM

Hi there.

I'm just wondering if Styrofoam is recyclable in any regard. I don't mean can it be utilised for other purposes around the house, but moreso is there anywhere it can be brought for reprocessing etc.

I've heard recently that it take a proverbial 'lifetime' to breakdown in the earth, so I really would prefer not continue discarding it.

Any information would be hugely appreciated.

Regards,
Paul.
I notice in Power City they have a crate near the exit door and people throw packaging, including styrofoam, into it. Don't know if they recycle it or not.

mrsl

30-12-2008, 12:46 PM

I put it in my green bin because the men on the lorry told me, when I asked them one day if it was ok to put it in, that all the stuff is sorted at the depot anyway.

If it cannot be recycled it is disposed of from there - assumingly in a responsible way.

I have been putting it in ever since - foam from bases of pizzas etc and packaging.

Hope that helps
mrsl

easyliving

30-12-2008, 12:51 PM

I use it to put into planting pots for drainage instead of stones, I also have dug some down into claggy soil as it does provide some airpockets. The one time I put it into my green bin they refused point blank to take my bin at all so I have not tried it since.

Chris P

30-12-2008, 01:03 PM

Hi Marathon Man,

Apparently, Styrofoam (or Polystyrene) is very difficult to recycle. I believe the only recycling centres in Dublin that accept it are:

1. Eden Park Recycling Centre
Glasthule (beside Sandycove Dart Station)
Dun Laoghaire
Co. Dublin

2. Shanganagh Recycling Centre
Shanganagh Cemetery Car Park (off Dublin Road),
Shankill
Co. Dublin

Or...you could try RehabRecycle. They take large amounts of polystyrene from commercial concerns, but they may have a public service also. Contact details here:
http://www.rehabrecycle.ie/Polystyrene-Recycling/Contact-Details.aspx

Regards
Chris P
Admin

Chris P

30-12-2008, 01:32 PM

Hi Marathon Man,

Obviously, the lifecycling-repurposing-recycling options are preferable, but the following (from Wikipedia) suggests that disposing of polystyrene through incineration and/or land-fill is not as bad as one might suspect:

"Foam cups and other polystyrene products can be safely buried in landfills, since it is as stable as concrete or brick. No plastic film is required to protect the air and underground water.

"Paper cups, when incinerated, produce an average of 200 pounds of ash per ton. If polystyrene is properly incinerated at high temperatures, one ton of foam cups produces 0.2 ounces of ash. The only chemicals generated are water, carbon dioxide, some volatile compounds, and carbon soot."

Details here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrene

As stable as concrete or brick? It seems that this stuff is made to last -- it really doesn't (bio?)degrade. Next time you are on a beach, check out the amount of polystrene and other plastics in the shingle/sand...

Regards
Chris P
Admin

Marathon Man

30-12-2008, 02:10 PM

Thanks for all the information. I've send the rehabrecycle people an email to see if they provide any sort of drop off facility. Will let you know if I hear anything back.

Once again, many thanks,
Paul.

summersun

09-01-2009, 10:47 PM

Hi Marathon Man,

Our green bins have a sign on the top saying no polystyrene products....

hope that helps a bit,

Summersun

bex71

23-11-2009, 01:41 PM

I know you said you don't want household uses for it, Marathon Man, but large amounts of styrofoam are great for filling bean bags, when broken up (the large bean bags for sitting on). It can be messy to do, but worth it as filling can be very expensive. ;-)

noni

23-11-2009, 02:50 PM

Any big-ish packaging can be cut to fit into spaces between timbers in your attic space, B and Q sell it by the sheet for this purpose.

TickTock

23-11-2009, 04:36 PM

My local civic amenity has a huge recycling area and when I rang them to see if they take styrofoam they said certainly, they do. Off I popped with my bootload of white stuff and entered the centre only to be told that while they 'take' it, they don't actually recycle it. So if ya wanna get rid of this stuff, don't make the same mistake I did. Silly me!

Chris P

23-11-2009, 05:33 PM

It's a step up from watching paint dry, but if you've got a spare 4 minutes, here's a video that shows part of the styrofoam recycling process:

http://www.jumbletown.ie/forums/showthread.php?t=42261

TickTock

24-11-2009, 04:59 PM

Chris, I had those 4 minutes.....and now they are gone forever.

Amazing watching that stuff roll slowly to its impending doom. And how the man actually knew the exact time to empty and refill the box before the goo overflowed and escaped out the door of the factory to wreak havoc on the world! Such a cliff-hanger......I still want to know.....what happened next? lol!

In other words, do they just make more of the stuff?

Chris P

24-11-2009, 05:46 PM

...I still want to know.....what happened next? lol! In other words, do they just make more of the stuff?
Hi TickTock,

This stuff doesn't die -- it's like perma-litter. However, creative folks often put it to good use...

Regards
Chris P
Admin

Pic: Styrofoam Hummer by Andy Junge (USA)

TickTock

24-11-2009, 07:42 PM

Good grief!

DeeBee3000

25-11-2009, 05:24 PM

HI, is there not any way that it could be used for insulation in any way if it was broken down. Is that not what they pump into walls and attics or is that stuff fireproof. If it is impossible to recycle then should we not use for insulating our houses. Let me know if any of ye know anything about this or in fact anything useful about saving on insulation.

dee1

17-12-2009, 11:24 PM

TickTock

17-12-2009, 11:38 PM

dee1

18-12-2009, 10:15 PM

Hi dee1,

Can you give an example of your styrofoam decorations. Christmas is almost upon us and I believe Stanta might be bringing some styrofoam - lucky us! So I would appreciate any suggestions for ways of using it.

What I do is cut it into whatever shape you want for eg. say baubles, if short on time, [these are not to be left where little ones can reach] wrap in ribbon or a mix of different width, material of different textures and ribbon also work well, secure with the straight pins with the little balls on top,decorate in this way to your hearts content.I display mine all year round by hanging off each end of the curtain poles.shelfs,hall ceiling, anywhere really.If you have the time the material etc can be glued on and decorated in glitter glue.so long as you let the child out in you the possibilities are endless,.you can make wraped parcels in different shapes and sizes to hang on the tree minus the pins of course,and also to put under the tree.trains for under the tree also,the list is endless.

Another item I did was for my son, he had a toy army so Icut oue some timber base covered with felt of different colours,cut and painted shapes and suck it all together to make a terrain type thing ,It went down a treat,so much so that a friend who saw it asked me to make one for her son who is into farming.Oh and for trees you can use bottle brushes.
hope this is of help to you...

Bright Blessings to all at jumbletown,Wishing you and yours a Stress Free and Peace Filled Christmas.

Regards dee1.

summersun

18-12-2009, 10:45 PM

What I do is cut it into whatever shape you want for eg. say baubles, if short on time, [these are not to be left where little ones can reach] wrap in ribbon or a mix of different width, material of different textures and ribbon also work well,secure with the straight pins with the little balls on top,decorate in this way to your hearts content.I display mine all year round by hanging off each end of the curtain poles.shelfs,hall ceiling, anywhere really.If you have the time the material etc can be glued on and decorated in glitter glue.so long as you let the child out in you the possibilities are endless,.you can make wraped parcels in different shapes and sizes to hang on the tree minus the pins of course,and also to put under the tree.trains for under the tree also,the list is endless.

Another item I did was for my son, he had a toy army so Icut oue some timber base covered with felt of different colours,cut and painted shapes and suck it all together to make a terrain type thing ,It went down a treat,so much so that a friend who saw it asked me to make one for her son who is into farming.Oh and for trees you can use bottle brushes.
hope this is of help to you...

Bright Blessings to all at jumbletown,Wishing you and yours a Stress Free and Peace Filled Christmas.

Regards dee1.
Come on Dee... we need to see some pics.... please... give us some inspiration

take care

Summersun

N00dle

20-12-2009, 11:07 AM

re using it for attic insulation.
Be very careful, I think the normal stuff used in packaging is flammable. The stuff sold in DIY centres for the job is treated. I am open to corection on this. I'd love to be wrong cause it would be a brilliant way to use up the bloody stuff.

Also re using it for decorations- can you put glue on it? I thought it disolved if you did? If so again be careful the gas thats given off is nasty nasty.

DeeBee3000

22-12-2009, 10:13 PM

ya i had thought of how flammable it is but dont know if bein flammable is a big issue with in sulation making companies, put a lighter to kingspan and youll see what i mean its like its soaked in petrol. anyway for anyone who might do diy on insulation, one major thing you must remember is to never let your electrical cables to be in contact with styrofoam of any kind even exposed kingspan, meaning kingspan without foil, whatever is in these will react with the insulation of your cables and dry them out so if there ever moved slightly the cable insulation will just crack off. may seem like useless information but electrical safety is one of the most important things to consider after the structure of your building so much so i just got a brainwave to open a thread for advice for anyone who might think about doin home diy in electrical.

Chris P

22-12-2009, 10:42 PM

ya i had thought of how flammable it is but dont know if bein flammable is a big issue with insulation making companies, put a lighter to kingspan and youll see what i mean its like its soaked in petrol. anyway for anyone who might do diy on insulation, one major thing you must remember is to never let your electrical cables to be in contact with styrofoam of any kind even exposed kingspan, meaning kingspan without foil, whatever is in these will react with the insulation of your cables and dry them out so if there ever moved slightly the cable insulation will just crack off.
Thanks for this information, DeeBee3000.
may seem like useless information but electrical safety is one of the most important things to consider after the structure of your building so much so i just got a brainwave to open a thread for advice for anyone who might think about doin home diy in electrical.
I don't think we can carry such a thread, DeeBee3000. It's our view that electrical repairs ought best be carried out by qualified personnel.

Regards
Chris P
Admin

DeeBee3000

23-12-2009, 07:17 PM

Hi, ya i had started to write something but the only advisable thing i have to say on that matter is to get a proffesional to do it, what i realised through it was i should be giving advice to electricians who have been trained by money mad tradesmen during the money mad boom scam we just went through but where do you start there so i just didnt write anything at all, safer job id say.

noddytown

27-12-2009, 05:03 PM

If you immerse pieces of styrafoam in petrol , it will dissolve and disappear . Now I wouldn't advise putting the resulting''petrol'' into an engine, So what do you do with it ??

On another point it is extreemly toxic if burnt , producing thick black acrid smoke , Unbelievable that it was (is ? ) sold in the form of nice white , ''Aeroboard'''' ceiling insulating decorative tiles'' for kitchens etc., for years . I do know that ceiling decorative cornices and centrepieces of this material are still sold nationwide . . a bit like cigarettes eh! nice and white on the outside but will kill you if burn it and breathe it !!

piggyb

29-12-2009, 05:47 PM

Hi there.

I'm just wondering if Styrofoam is recyclable in any regard. I don't mean can it be utilised for other purposes around the house, but moreso is there anywhere it can be brought for reprocessing etc.

I've heard recently that it take a proverbial 'lifetime' to breakdown in the earth, so I really would prefer not continue discarding it.

Any information would be hugely appreciated.

Regards,
Paul.
hi there are places which recycle polys ask at your local atourity they will tell you who to my memory some diy stores do its available on the web who recycles which did electrical do all you have to do is call

Rufus Fornow

11-01-2010, 02:35 PM

My local council accepts it for recycling. Apparently it is remoulded into insulation and other products. They only take the white stuff - not black or green. They charge €3 per bag to take it (It's a very big bag which they supply at the recycling centre.

patnor1011

28-02-2010, 12:59 PM

I can suggest to use it as insulation. It is commonly used like that in many countries. Shred it into pieces as small as possible - say pea, rice size. Mix with concrete /cement, water, little sand/ it is great. I know about company producing plasto concrete - same thing instead of styro they put in shredded plastic. Concrete is then lighter but same strong as normal. It is cheaper, better for insulation. If you want to make your own dont forget to put cup of washing up liquid into cement mixer as plastificator it will help plastic stick to concrete it has something to do with static electricity... I saw few bricks made from that material and boy they are strong but light and keep warm... I have some pictures somewhere...

cynthiacampbell

18-03-2013, 08:59 AM

Styrofoam can be recycled in the sense that you can use it at anything and with any form. Re-using Styrofoam will be the best step to know its purpose again rather than be destructive in the environment. Some of environmental advocates suggested its total ban in the market. While some are totally hopeless to re use it again that even cause a big damage and total loss f diversity. In fact, Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York City, wants to basically ban every little thing anybody loves though one ban he has in mind has a respectable enough rationale. Bloomberg is touting a Styrofoam ban, as the stuff is very challenging to do away with due to high costs of collection and recycling. Read more here: Styrofoam ban (http://personalmoneynetwork.com/moneyblog/2013/02/15/styrofoam-ban/)

dara

29-04-2013, 02:28 PM

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-Centre/silliot-hill-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.

noddytown

29-04-2013, 04:40 PM

Any expert care to comment on my comment ? re Petrol etc..

tree123

13-06-2013, 05:35 PM

Another use for directly recycling it (i know you didn't want round the home ideas but someone might ) make it in to a outdoor planter but out unwanted shapes make holes in bottom cover with old chicken wire render with cement sand and potting compost mix the quantities can be found on the internet, i found this in a big garden design book done by the times i got from the library thought it might interest some :)