What Should We Do With Styrofoam in Kane County, IL?
With the recent news that the village of Algonquin is ending its Styrofoam recycling program immediately, a lot of folks in Kane County are wondering where and how to recycle Styrofoam.
Jennifer Jarland, Kane County recycling coordinator, has some advice on that score.
“Some Styrofoam — like block foam and food containers — can be recycled at Dart Container in North Aurora! And foam packing peanuts can be reused at some shipping stores,” she said.
Jarland suggests residents check out the A-Z Recycling List to find more about recycling opportunities, including the following:
Styrofoam, polystyrene, styrene: Dart Container Corp, 310 Evergreen Dr., North Aurora, 630-896-4631, www.dartcontainer.com. Recycle Drop-Off is open 24/7. List of accepted items: block foam No. 6, clean food containers. No straws, cup lids, paper or packing peanuts. If dropping a large load, please call for an appointment.- Packing peanuts: Shipping and packing stores will reuse clean, bagged and unmixed foam peanuts. Call your local UPS store. Or contact the Peanut Hotline www.epspackaging.org, 800-828-2214.
Styrofoam is a brand name for polystyrene foam, much like Kleenex is a brand name for tissues. So what we are really talking about is No. 6 polystyrene, a petroleum-based plastic foam.
“This kind of foam is generally found in block form in electronics or appliance boxes; as plates, bowls, cups and clam-shell containers; and as packing peanuts or as my aunty calls them, ‘ghost poop,’ ” Jarland said. “These shapes of No. 6 polystyrene ARE recyclable — but not in your curbside recycling bin, please!”
It is important to note that the bendy kinds of foam blocks are not recyclable at all. Jarland says the No. 6 foam blocks are generally identifiable by the way they would snap if you were to try to bend them.
Some people believe that polystyrene foam can go in the blue recycling bin at the curb, but this is not the case. The material recovery facilities do not separate this material, as it is often soiled or broken up by the time it reaches them, so it ends up as a discard at the end of the sorting process and is ultimately landfilled.
Jarland said Wednesday that Ken Santowski, with Chicago Logistic Service and the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is working on “a great opportunity for residential foam recycling” that will cover an area that includes northern Kane County, and she’ll be meeting with him Monday to talk about this.
“Stay tuned for more news on foam recycling!” Jarland said.
From Valerie Blaine, Forest Preserve District of Kane County
Chances are, you’ve had a cup of coffee in a polystyrene (aka, Styrofoam) cup. Maybe even today. Or, you may have brought home carry-out food last night in a polystyrene container. Maybe you had lunch served on a polystyrene plate. This polystyrene stuff is everywhere, and it has a big impact on the environment.
Did you know?
- Styrofoam, the brand name of polystyrene, was invented in 1938 by the Dow Chemical Company.
- Styrene contains benzene and styrene, which are linked to serious health problems.
- Polystyrene is not biodegradable on land. In the ocean, polystyrene breaks down into a “soup” of toxic chemicals.
- It is estimated that Americans throw away 25 billion polystyrene cups each year. (And that’s just cups!)
- Polystyrene is detrimental to wildlife, particularly in aquatic environments.
- Polystyrene has low scrap value. This means that the market for recycling polystyrene is small — and getting smaller.
- The polystyrene coffee cup you throw away today will still be in the landfill 500 years from now.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that there are things you can do! Here are a few tips:
- Bring your own coffee mug to work.
- Use re-usable dishes — you know, real plates and bowls.
- Remember that dish soap is your friend. (The “green” kind.)
- Chose products with recyclable or compostable packaging.
Help make your workplace and your home “Styrofoam-free zones”!
