It's the eternal question: Can I recycle polystyrene?

Polystyrene is a petroleum-based plastic made from the styrene monomer. Most people know it as Styrofoam (which is actually the trademark name for Dow Chemical's product); within the packaging industry it is referred to as expanded polystyrene (EPS) and usually bears the "#6" recycling symbol... But don't confuse EPS with its good cousin "solid/rigid" PS also a #6!

It's everywhere: expanded, or "foamed" polystyrene can be used to make coffee cups, soup bowls, salad boxes, plates, trays, clamshell containers, foam meat trays and egg cartons as well as protective packaging. Polystyrene products protect against moisture and maintain strength and shape longer than most other packaging materials, such as paper. These products are lightweight and can be molded to parts and products, maximizing their cushioning characteristics. Foamed polystyrene provides many benefits including the insulating quality that helps hold food at temperature.

In other words, all of the qualities that make Styrofoam a convenient, lightweight strong and high-performing storage product go against the mechanics of recycling. It is simply not an easy material to recycle (only about 5 percent of the foam is polystyrene; the rest is air). According to the American Chemistry Council, recycling is often not available for the material because it does not make economic sense for many recycling plants to accept the material, this is frequently made worse by the long distances it must be hauled.


Recycling Styrofoam is an expensive process: it costs about $2,000 per ton to properly recycle, as opposed to glass at less than $100 per ton.

Because it's so lightweight, EPS takes up 0.01 percent of the total municipal solid waste stream by weight, but as you may have guessed, its volume is a greater problem than its weight; some estimates claim that by volume it takes up over 30 percent.

No Greater Lowell municipality accepts EPS in their curbside recycling programs. Your best option is not to buy or use products containing it. Unfortunately despite carrying the #6 branding, the only disposal option for EPS is in the regular trash. Perhaps with one exception...

Packing peanuts are often the most difficult type of EPS to recycle. Their simplest reuse is in another package you need to ship. You can also donate them to UPS, FedEx, STAPLES or other shipping stores, who will gladly reuse the clean material. Not sure where to go? Call the automated, 24-hour Peanut Hot line at 800-828-2214 or visit to find a site near you that will reuse them.

The 'other' PS #6 is rigid or solid polystyrene; it is used for cutlery, yogurt and cottage cheese containers, cups, clear salad bar containers, television cabinets, appliances, toys, compact disc jewel cases, video and audiocassette housings. These non-foam #6's can be placed in your recycling bins.

Keep in mind that Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle are in order of preference for the environment.

Read part two of this column online. Visit for more details.