Styrofoam Packing - What to do with it?

Closed Thread
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 10-20-2019, 11:58 AM
Tom C's Avatar
Tom C Tom C is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Pine Hills, recently arrived from Alaska!
Posts: 303
Thanks: 8
Thanked 41 Times in 21 Posts
Default Styrofoam Packing - What to do with it?

Is there any business or place to recycle larger blocks of styrofoam packing?

Recently we received a couple of items packed with large amounts of styrofoam to protect the box contents. I know this packing material does not go into the recycle collection bag. I really have no other way to dispose of this material than to put it out with the household trash. Anyone know a local business that can use this or re-purpose this material?

  #2  
Old 10-20-2019, 09:21 PM
villagetinker's Avatar
villagetinker villagetinker is offline
Sage
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Village of Pinellas
Posts: 9,658
Thanks: 2
Thanked 6,121 Times in 2,237 Posts
Default

If the pieces are about 2 inches thick, these are great for use above the kitchen cabinets as a support for displayed items. A few months ago I bumped into a guy at Lowe's looking to buy insulation for just that purpose. Try providing the dimensions of the pieces, and maybe others will be interested.

Also check with the local pack and ship they may be interested.
__________________
Pennsylvania, for 60+ years, most recently, Allentown, now TV.

Last edited by villagetinker; 10-20-2019 at 09:22 PM. Reason: last sentence added
  #3  
Old 10-20-2019, 10:07 PM
tophcfa's Avatar
tophcfa tophcfa is offline
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I happen to be.
Posts: 6,052
Thanks: 2,856
Thanked 9,035 Times in 2,730 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom C View Post
Is there any business or place to recycle larger blocks of styrofoam packing?

Recently we received a couple of items packed with large amounts of styrofoam to protect the box contents. I know this packing material does not go into the recycle collection bag. I really have no other way to dispose of this material than to put it out with the household trash. Anyone know a local business that can use this or re-purpose this material?

Tom, I don't have an answer for you, but I wanted to give you a very positive shout out for trying to do something with it besides adding it to the household trash : )
  #4  
Old 10-21-2019, 04:28 AM
Tom C's Avatar
Tom C Tom C is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Pine Hills, recently arrived from Alaska!
Posts: 303
Thanks: 8
Thanked 41 Times in 21 Posts
Default

Thanks for the ideas and feedback.

The most recent large piece is 32” x 32” x 6”. I think I will accumulate various blocks like this, while trying to find a good re-use.

If anyone wants it, please let me know. I would be happy to give it to someone or some club that could use it.
  #5  
Old 10-21-2019, 07:58 AM
Two Bills Two Bills is offline
Sage
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 5,675
Thanks: 1,681
Thanked 7,355 Times in 2,508 Posts
Default

Lay it out in the loft, as added insulation, as long as it does not stop air circulation.
  #6  
Old 10-21-2019, 08:37 AM
Altavia Altavia is offline
Sage
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 3,350
Thanks: 1,429
Thanked 2,741 Times in 1,223 Posts
Default

Any clubs or shops into floral decoration that could use it for base material?

Model railroaders sometimes use it for landscapes?
  #7  
Old 10-21-2019, 10:26 AM
Topspinmo's Avatar
Topspinmo Topspinmo is offline
Sage
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Posts: 12,326
Thanks: 6,327
Thanked 4,882 Times in 2,428 Posts
Default

If you place it outside in the trash make sure it weighted down with cardboard. Or break if it and bag it which is probably the proper way to dispose of it? Neighbor down the street just threw it out and the wind broke it up and had staroform all over the neighborhood. Picked the bits and pieces up for days.
  #8  
Old 10-21-2019, 10:32 AM
Kilmacowen Kilmacowen is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 211
Thanks: 1
Thanked 126 Times in 65 Posts
Default

I have put it out in recycle, separate bag, and they took it.
  #9  
Old 10-21-2019, 11:10 AM
redwitch's Avatar
redwitch redwitch is offline
Sage
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,099
Thanks: 3
Thanked 78 Times in 35 Posts
Send a message via Yahoo to redwitch
Default

Publix has a recycling bin for styrofoam. Ditto plastic bags.
__________________
Army/embassy brat - traveled too much to mention
Moved here from SF Bay Area (East Bay)

"There are only two ways to live your life: One is as though nothing is a miracle; the other is as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein
  #10  
Old 10-21-2019, 11:26 AM
Ralphy Ralphy is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 136
Thanks: 2
Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts
Default free insulation

Put it on the sheetrock floor of the uninsulated attic over the garage. It is free insulation.
  #11  
Old 10-21-2019, 02:08 PM
JoMar JoMar is offline
Sage
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,828
Thanks: 10
Thanked 2,317 Times in 871 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kilmacowen View Post
I have put it out in recycle, separate bag, and they took it.
We it goes to the sorting facility they will send it to the landfill.
__________________
No one believes the truth when the lie is more interesting

Berks County Pennsylvania
  #12  
Old 10-21-2019, 02:33 PM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is online now
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 14,157
Thanks: 2,324
Thanked 13,597 Times in 5,193 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralphy View Post
Put it on the sheetrock floor of the uninsulated attic over the garage. It is free insulation.
I wouldn't use packing styrofoam as insulation for my house. It is not the same material as the fireproof foam insulation manufactured specifically for that purpose. It may be toxic. Also, it would be a code violation.

Last edited by retiredguy123; 10-21-2019 at 02:43 PM.
  #13  
Old 10-22-2019, 10:10 AM
leftyf leftyf is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,008
Thanks: 101
Thanked 70 Times in 33 Posts
Default

If you look on Youtube, there is a project to build a cutter for it. We had one where I worked, pretty simple tool.
Closed Thread

Tags
material, styrofoam, packing, recycle, business

Thread Tools

You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:38 PM.