Styrofoam has always been a "no no" in recycle bins and frowned upon in trash cans. But, styrofoam is not as difficult of a product to recycle even though it's petroleum based. You just have to have the right equipment and then the offset is fairly even, according to Foam Equipment Consulting.
Foam Equipment and Consulting provides the history of inventions and patents in the link above. Interesting that it all started in about 1839!
So where do you recycle styrofoam? Try googling the phrase, "recycle styrofoam" but if that doesn't produce any results, try Earth911.com. Earth911.com has a search bar to search for anything you might want to recycle. You might find a neighboring town that has a drop off point if not in your immediate area.
Feeling lucky in Phoenix because we have a GREAT recycle bin in Tempe courtesy of Earth Friendly Building Materials. What's so "earth friendly" about recycling styrofoam? Earth Friendly Building Materials recycles it into Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction blocks that are then used to build homes and buildings!
ICF is an energy efficient type of construction comprised of a layer of recycled styrofoam in between 2 concrete barriers that ends up being higher than R-22 insulation factor. This type of construction eliminates the need for insulation in the walls and is easier/faster to construct, saving thousands on labor and materials. AND the wall system reduces noise transmission, has reduced fire risk, and is termite/pest resistant.
Check out the video on EFBM.com for demonstration and explanation of all that this type of block can withstand - even tornadoes!
The production of the blocks is local and the process reduces carbon emissions even further - a win win for the environment!
Check out this video from Earth Friendly Building Material, family owned business (Dan and Sue Ellen Chouinard) in Tempe, Arizona founded in 1990. This video has more instructional information. Currently EFBM has about MANY projects in process all over Arizona.
I'm happy to save up styrofoam to deliver to EFBM, knowing that the styrofoam will end up in someone's home and not in a landfill!
If you're interested in buying and selling homes in the Phoenix area, make sure you use a knowledgeable professional who understands the housing market and can represent you, no matter what kind of home you are selling/buying!
Comments (34)Subscribe to CommentsComment