Can You Recycle Styrofoam?
Most curbside recycling programs don't accept styrofoam (expanded polystyrene or EPS) because it's bulky, lightweight, and often contaminated with food. However, some areas have drop-off locations, and certain mail-back programs accept clean packing peanuts and foam blocks.
Key Takeaways
- Styrofoam is technically recyclable plastic (#6 polystyrene), but the economics rarely work out.
- Packing peanuts made from cornstarch dissolve in water and can go in compost—test by running one under water.
- Some recycling centers only accept white EPS, not colored or black foam.
Explanation
Styrofoam is technically recyclable plastic (#6 polystyrene), but the economics rarely work out. It's 95% air by volume, making transport expensive relative to material value. Contamination from food residue makes it even harder to process.
UPS Stores and some shipping retailers accept clean packing peanuts for reuse. Companies like Foam Recycling Coalition have drop-off locators for clean EPS. Some cities like Los Angeles have dedicated foam recycling programs.
For food containers and other contaminated styrofoam, the best option is usually landfill. Never burn styrofoam—it releases toxic fumes. Consider switching to recyclable or compostable alternatives when possible.
When styrofoam is successfully recycled, it is processed through densification, where machines compress the foam to 1/90th of its original volume by removing the air. The resulting dense polystyrene blocks can be sold for $200-400 per ton and are used to make products like picture frames, crown molding, park benches, and new rigid packaging. However, most municipal recycling facilities lack the specialized densifiers needed for this process, which cost $30,000-100,000 per unit, making it cost-prohibitive for smaller programs.
Styrofoam takes an estimated 500 years to decompose in a landfill and represents about 30% of landfill volume in the United States. Several states and cities have addressed this by banning EPS food containers entirely: New York, Maine, Maryland, and Virginia all have statewide bans, and over 200 cities including San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C. prohibit single-use foam food packaging. If your area lacks recycling options, reducing styrofoam use is more impactful than finding disposal solutions. Request paper-based packaging when ordering online, and bring your own containers for restaurant leftovers.
Things to Know
- Packing peanuts made from cornstarch dissolve in water and can go in compost—test by running one under water.
- Some recycling centers only accept white EPS, not colored or black foam.
- Foam egg cartons may be accepted where rigid foam is not—check local rules.
- Grocery stores sometimes accept clean meat trays and foam cups even when curbside doesn't.
- Large blocks of clean EPS from appliance or furniture packaging are the most recyclable form of styrofoam; many Best Buy and Home Depot locations accept these through manufacturer take-back programs.