Foam Plastic #6 (Polystyrene)

Alternative ways to recycle
Put in Garbage
styrofoam-cup

Help Prevent Litter

Plastic #6 is a lightweight material that easily finds its way into the environment, where it can leach toxic chemicals. Make sure plastic #6 doesn’t blow away by disposing of it properly.

plastic-6-styrofoam-takeout

Takeout Containers Are Not Recyclable

Foam takeout containers are generally not recyclable. Even where certain foam products are recycled, takeout containers are often not accepted because they are difficult to sanitize.

green-packing-peanuts

Packing Peanuts Are Not Recyclable

Packing peanuts are generally not recyclable. There are many alternatives for recyclable packaging material. Find out how to dispose of packing peanuts.

Alternative Ways to Recycle

home for foam

Recycle With Home for Foam

Visit Home for Foam to see if there is a foam recycler in your area. These recyclers will accept many foam products, including beverage and food containers. Find out more.

Ways to Reduce

Reusable Packaging For Businesses

Check out Upstream’s catalog of reusable packaging and unpackaging innovators that provide ways for consumers to obtain products, mostly food and beverages, in returnable, reusable, or refillable packaging – or they deliver products to consumers unpackaged altogether.

Ways to Reuse

teddy bear

Reuse Foam at Home

Use foam to refill cushions or stuffed animals that have lost their loft.

Did You Know?

Plankton Eating Polystyrene

In the ocean, plastic is being consumed all the way down the food chain. For the first time ever, scientists have recorded plankton eating tiny polystyrene beads. Find out more at New Scientist.

Plastic in Our Bodies

Styrene, a component of polystyrene, has been found in 100 percent of human fat tissue samples dating back to 1986. It is known to cause cancer in animals, and suspected to be both cancerous for humans as well.