As communities around the country look to implement foam recycling in their towns one of the biggest things they struggle with is getting started. How and where are two important questions that are frequently asked. Winnetka, Illinois has a simple answer.
One box in a city building.
Recently, the members of the Northborough Junior Woman’s Club (NJWC) returned from the General Federation of Women’s Clubs’ (GFWC) annual convention in Phoenix, Arizona. NJWC received second place in GFWC’s Community Improvement Program, for their polystyrene recycling project.
Members of the NJWC started the polystyrene project in 2010, when Jane Walsh, chair of the Conservation Committee learned about ReFoamlt, a Framingham-based company dedicated to collecting and repurposing polystyrene foam, or foam #6.
Currently, the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) and the City of Montreal are running a year-long pilot project to collect and recycle expanded polystyrene foam; a material that is not accepted in Montreal’s recycling system. Up until September 30th, 2014, Montreal residents could dispose of their used polystyr
While outgoing NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his administration gathered enough votes to pass an amendment that would have banned local restaurants and businesses from using polystyrene foam products, a provision within the law put a stop to the ban altogether. New York City Council Members allowed a few organizations to develop a foam recycling program as an alternative to banning foam.
It is getting to be that time of year when holiday gift giving produces large amounts of polystyrene foam and packaging materials. Instead of throwing polystyrene foam products into the trash, residents in Kirkland, Washington are participating in ‘StyroFest.’
Over four specific weekends from Thanksgiving to the beginning of March, Kirkland residents will be able to dispose of their used foam for recycling at the city’s Public Works Maintenance Center.