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Compare nearby storage unitsIs Styrofoam Recyclable?
plastic • Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
Special Handling Required
#6
⚠️ This item requires SPECIAL HANDLING and cannot go in curbside bins.
Why It's Not Recyclable
Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene or EPS) requires special handling because it cannot be processed by standard curbside recycling facilities. The material is made up of 98% air, making it extremely lightweight and voluminous, which creates significant logistical challenges for recycling programs. Standard recycling equipment cannot effectively process styrofoam because it breaks into small pieces that contaminate other recyclables and jam machinery. Additionally, styrofoam often contains food residue, grease, and other contaminants that make it unsuitable for standard recycling streams. The polystyrene material itself is technically recyclable, but the expanded foam structure requires specialized equipment to compress and process it. Most municipal recycling programs exclude styrofoam because the collection and processing costs exceed the value of the recycled material. However, styrofoam can be recycled through specialized programs that use densification equipment to compress the foam into dense pellets that can then be manufactured into new products like picture frames, crown molding, and park benches. The key challenge is that styrofoam recycling requires a closed-loop system with sufficient volume to make the specialized processing economically viable.
How to Recycle
Styrofoam cannot be placed in curbside recycling bins and requires special drop-off locations. First, clean the styrofoam thoroughly by removing all food residue, tape, labels, and other contaminants – contaminated styrofoam cannot be recycled even at special facilities. Look for drop-off locations at participating retailers such as UPS stores, Whole Foods Market locations, and some shipping centers that accept clean packing peanuts and foam packaging. Some communities have specialized styrofoam recycling events or permanent drop-off sites – check with your local waste management authority. For food containers like takeout boxes, ensure they are completely clean and dry before transport. Remove any plastic lids, paper labels, or staples. Some facilities only accept certain types of styrofoam (packaging vs. food containers), so verify acceptance before dropping off. Transport styrofoam in bags to prevent it from blowing away, as it is extremely lightweight. Never break styrofoam into small pieces as this makes it harder to process and creates litter.
Preparation Steps:
Clean thoroughly to remove all food residue, grease, and contaminants. Remove all tape, labels, staples, and non-styrofoam attachments. Ensure material is completely dry. Keep pieces intact rather than breaking into smaller fragments.
Disposal Method
If no recycling option is available, dispose in regular trash. Never burn styrofoam as it releases toxic fumes.
Special Recycling Programs
UPS Stores accept clean packing peanuts and foam packaging. Whole Foods Markets have styrofoam recycling bins in many locations. Some Dart Container facilities accept clean foam food service products. Check with local shipping stores and packaging centers. Earth911.com has a styrofoam recycling locator tool to find nearby drop-off locations.
Sponsored · TerraCycle
No local option for styrofoam? Mail it in.
If nothing near you takes it, TerraCycle’s Styrofoam Zero Waste Box is a mail-in program: you fill the box, ship it back with the label inside, and the contents get processed instead of landfilled.
- Prepaid shipping label in the box
- Everything sent back is recycled, not landfilled
- Sized for a household, an office or a school
Zero Waste Boxes are a paid product, not a free drop-off. Price depends on the box size and what you are recycling.
Alternatives
- Reusable glass or ceramic containers for food storage
- Compostable plant-based food containers
- Reusable insulated containers for takeout
- Paper-based packaging alternatives
- Biodegradable mushroom-based packaging
Common Brands
Dart Container
Genpak
Pactiv Evergreen
Reynolds
Hefty
McDonald's containers
Dunkin' cups
Styrofoam brand (Dow Chemical)
Foam containers
EPS packaging
Note: RecycleFind lists local recycling centers. Confirm acceptance rules with the facility or municipal program for that city.
Quick Facts
Category
plastic
Material Type
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
Recycling Number
#6
Curbside Recyclable
No
Special Programs
Available
Go from quick answer to local action
Quick answers about styrofoam
Can you recycle styrofoam?
Not in the regular bin. This item needs special handling or a dedicated drop-off. Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene or EPS) requires special handling because it cannot be processed by standard curbside recycling facilities. The material is made up of 98% air, making it extremely lightweight and voluminous, which creates significant logistical challenges for recycling programs. Standard recycling equipment cannot effectively process styrofoam because it breaks into small pieces that contaminate other recyclables and jam machinery. Additionally, styrofoam often contains food residue, grease, and other contaminants that make it unsuitable for standard recycling streams. The polystyrene material itself is technically recyclable, but the expanded foam structure requires specialized equipment to compress and process it. Most municipal recycling programs exclude styrofoam because the collection and processing costs exceed the value of the recycled material. However, styrofoam can be recycled through specialized programs that use densification equipment to compress the foam into dense pellets that can then be manufactured into new products like picture frames, crown molding, and park benches. The key challenge is that styrofoam recycling requires a closed-loop system with sufficient volume to make the specialized processing economically viable.
How do you recycle or dispose of styrofoam?
Styrofoam cannot be placed in curbside recycling bins and requires special drop-off locations. First, clean the styrofoam thoroughly by removing all food residue, tape, labels, and other contaminants – contaminated styrofoam cannot be recycled even at special facilities. Look for drop-off locations at participating retailers such as UPS stores, Whole Foods Market locations, and some shipping centers that accept clean packing peanuts and foam packaging. Some communities have specialized styrofoam recycling events or permanent drop-off sites – check with your local waste management authority. For food containers like takeout boxes, ensure they are completely clean and dry before transport. Remove any plastic lids, paper labels, or staples. Some facilities only accept certain types of styrofoam (packaging vs. food containers), so verify acceptance before dropping off. Transport styrofoam in bags to prevent it from blowing away, as it is extremely lightweight. Never break styrofoam into small pieces as this makes it harder to process and creates litter.
Do you need to prepare styrofoam before recycling it?
Clean thoroughly to remove all food residue, grease, and contaminants. Remove all tape, labels, staples, and non-styrofoam attachments. Ensure material is completely dry. Keep pieces intact rather than breaking into smaller fragments.