At The ReCollective, we recycle Styrofoam across the Triangle, NC, including Durham, Raleigh, Cary, and Chapel Hill, as well as through our Almost Anything Bag Mailback program. Styrofoam is collected every month in addition to our other core hard-to-recycle materials.

Tips for Recycling Styrofoam with The ReCollective:

1. 1. Only place Styrofoam packaging and coolers in your designated bag. Avoid adding food containers, packaging peanuts, or flexible foam.
   2. If you have a small amount of Styrofoam, place it directly into your black waterproof bag on pickup day. For larger pieces, set them next to the waterproof bag, ensuring they won’t get blown away. If you prefer to use the 55-gallon plastic bag, wait until it’s full to help save on bags.
   3. Try not to break up the Styrofoam unnecessarily. Larger pieces are easier to recycle and can be processed more efficiently.
   4. Ensure that no flexible foam or other non-Styrofoam materials are mixed in, as this can contaminate the recycling process; flexible foam is typically soft and bends without breaking, unlike Styrofoam.
   5. Do not place Styrofoam in your curbside recycling bin, as it can cause contamination and disrupt the recycling process for other materials.
   6. Whenever possible, avoid purchasing items in Styrofoam packaging or patronizing establishments that use Styrofoam food containers to reduce waste from the start.

How does The ReCollective recycle Styrofoam? 

Recycling Styrofoam with The ReCollective is simple. Members receive a 55-gallon bag to collect Styrofoam, which is then densified by our partner, Orange Recycling Services, to create reusable materials like plastic components and building supplies. 

Our Partners Who Make Styrofoam Recycling Possible