The Easiest Way to Recycle Styrofoam

According to an anti-littering campaign in the the state of Missouri, a single Styrofoam container can take more than a million years to decompose. For this reason, many people prefer to drink their morning coffee out of reusable mugs and some companies have stopped using Styrofoam plates and cups altogether. Of course, there are times when you simply cannot avoid buying a product that comes in a Styrofoam container, but if you want to do your part to protect the environment, you should recycle the Styrofoam that you use.

The easiest way to recycle your Styrofoam is to wash it and save it in a paper bag or cardboard box until you have a lot of it. Go to the website www.epspackaging.org/info.html, which was created by the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers to help people find the nearest Styrofoam drop-off locations. Resist the temptation to just throw the Styrofoam into the nearest recycling bin because not all recycling centers are equipped to handle expanded polystyrene. If the center does not have the proper machinery or does not see a market for recycled Styrofoam, employees will likely throw it into the garbage.

Some states, such as Michigan and Ohio, have a lot of drop-off spots so you are likely to find one in your area. However, if you live in Alabama or South Carolina, you might not be able to find a Styrofoam recycling center in your area. Luckily, the same website, www.epspackaging.org/info.html, also has a list of locations that will accept clean Styrofoam sent in the mail. Simply gather up all of your Styrofoam and place it in a cardboard box. Tape the box shut and tape a label to it with your return address and the address of the nearest Styrofoam recycling center. Bring the box to your local post office and choose the cheapest shipping option.