Foam Recycling Made Easier

By Matt Liptak 

It’s been one year since the ban on expanded polystyrene foam products (EPS) took effect in Anne Arundel County. The ban primarily targeted single use food containers like cups, plates, bowls, clamshell, egg cartons etc. Yet, expanded polystyrene remains abundant in packaging material around the region thanks to a booming online retail market that is shipping products from all over the world to our doorsteps. 

Most municipalities do not accept foam packaging in curbside recycling programs because EPS breaks down into smaller segments, which would contaminate the recycling stream. So what’s a well-intentioned consumer to do to keep foam out of our environment? 

The EPS Industry Alliance in Crofton, a trade organization representing polystyrene companies, has a solution for those mountains of foam packaging that have nowhere to go: they will recycle it for you.  

“At our Crofton location, we collected over five tons in 2020, up 67 percent from the previous year,” says Betsy Bowers, the alliance’s executive director. “It is exciting to watch expanded polystyrene recycling grow, as we see more people taking advantage of community drop-off locations.” 

EPS, like many plastics, has been considered a culprit in pollution, with littered coffee cups and food containers a common eyesore along highways and in our waterways. The state of Maryland has also now implemented a ban on those containers similar to Anne Arundel County’s.  

Like other plastics, foam materials can absorb toxins and then release them in waterways, impacting wildlife. 

EPS has its defenders though, who cite its versatility and effectiveness. Recycled EPS can be turned back into foam products, but it can also be turned into harder plastic materials such as benches and trim or molding. 

“We put in our recycling bins two years ago,” says Diana Gentilcore, Sustainability Director with The EPS Industry Alliance. “Now consumers can drop them off 24/7. We always encourage recycling. We’ve done a lot to help advance that—make it easier for businesses and consumers to recycle expanded polystyrene. I think it’s very important because it can go into a lot of other useful products.” 

Gentilcore reports many regular visitors to the recycling center, dropping off polystyrene collected in neighborhoods and offices, including the Maryland Department of the Environment and the United States Department of Agriculture.  

Anyone can drop off their EPS at the Crofton site—as long as it does not contain foam peanuts which are not recyclable. When the bins are full, the organization stores the material in its office, until the recycler’s truck arrives on Wednesday mornings.   

“We’ve really watched it grow,” Gentilcore said. “People are very happy and grateful that they can recycle their foam.” 

The EPS Industry Alliance’s drop-off bins are located in the parking lot of 1298 Cronson Boulevard in Crofton, just off Route 3.