24/7 Styrofoam Recycling Drop Off
The City of Dublin is launching a Styrofoam recycling program in partnership with the City of Hilliard starting Thursday, Sept. 15. This new program will help keep unwanted Styrofoam out of the landfill while also increasing Dublin’s diversion rate.
Dublin community members can now recycle Styrofoam at the 24/7 drop-off site located in the City Service Center parking lot, 6555 Shier Rings Road. There, residents can also drop off organic waste in the green compost bins. E-waste collection bins are available inside the Service Center, which serves as Dublin’s centralized recycling hub.
What Styrofoam Can Be Recycled?
- We CAN accept: packaging material and foam coolers
- We CAN’T accept: foam peanuts, construction grade foam (insulation) or food-grade polystyrene. This includes cups, food containers, meat packaging, plates, egg cartons, etc., unless it is new and has never contacted any food or beverage.
All materials must be clean and free of tape, stickers/labels, paper, metal/plastic fasteners and any other contaminants.
Please DO NOT place Styrofoam in your curbside collection bin, as Rumpke does not currently accept Styrofoam. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) products can only be recycled at the designated drop off location at the Service Center, 6555 Shier Rings Road.
Drop-Off Events
The Dublin community will also have the opportunity to recycle Styrofoam during drive-thru events. As details are finalized, information will be provided here.
What Happens to the Recycled Foam?
While plastic foam is not recyclable through traditional methods, EPS can be recycled through densification. Densifiers remove the air from the Styrofoam, condensing it down to a fraction of its original size. Recycled Styrofoam is commonly used for insulation, picture frames, park benches, coolers, infant car seats and for added protection in sports and motor vehicle helmets.
Partnership with the City of Hilliard
The City of Dublin has partnered with the City of Hilliard to recycle the Styrofoam collected at the Service Center, and Dublin City staff will deliver the materials to Hilliard for densification.
In 2021, the City of Hilliard received a grant from SWACO to purchase Central Ohio’s first densifier. The Runi-brand equipment shreds Styrofoam and then compresses out the air, reducing the volume of the foam by 1/50th of its original volume. Put into perspective, a stack of Styrofoam the size of an SUV can be compressed to the size of one concrete block.
The overall goal for both cities is to divert Styrofoam from the trash, saving valuable space in the landfill for material that can’t be recycled or reused. Dublin’s larger vision is to be the model for sustainable community design, zero waste, carbon neutral efforts and supportive of its natural environment while providing diverse living, entertainment and recreational experiences attractive to all.
Original source can be found here.
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