Foam being accepted for recycling at Westmoreland Cleanways

A long-awaited piece of material can finally be recycled at Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling — foam.

The Unity-based nonprofit organization is purchasing a foam densifier with a $46,500 grant from the Foam Recycling Coalition, director Ellen Keefe said.

“People ask for it all the time,” she said. “There is a big pent up demand.”

The organization’s drop-off recycling facility on Pleasant Unity Mutual Road is collecting foam now and the densifier should be installed there in mid-October. A move to a bigger space earlier this year made the foam recycling addition possible, Keefe said.

The high-capacity densifier unit will accept foam marked #6, according to the Foam Recycling Coalition. That includes cups, plates, bowls, egg cartons, meat trays and block-style packaging typically found with electronics or furniture. Popcorn-style foam pieces will not be accepted.

“(Westmoreland Cleanways) sets a great example of how an organization can expand its current facility and operations, and educate residents as foam polystyrene recycling continues to increase across North America,” said Natha Dempsey, president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute, which oversees the coalition.

Foam that is recycled at Westmoreland Cleanways’ facility will be turned into picture frames through New Jersey-based company Foam Cycle, Keefe said. The densifier shreds the material then heats, melts and compacts it.

“The only way to recycle it is if it is densified,” she said. “The whole program we’re implementing will be full circle.”

Foam disposed of in household trash ends up in a landfill taking up space. It does not decompose. Foam ready for recycling should be separated into white and colored pieces that all should be clean of food.

“It can be stained a little bit … but any food needs to be washed off of it,” Keefe said.

Westmoreland Cleanways is the Foam Recycling Coalition’s 14th grant recipient since 2015. Funding is raised through contributions to the coalition. A video below describes Foam Cycle’s methods to turn recycled foam into picture frames.