Sustaining Styrofoam in Westford

Styrofoam is used for many things – coffee cups, meat trays, packing peanuts, and Westford Public School lunch trays.

Unfortunately, you cannot throw it into your , or many communities for that matter. Styrofoam takes up a lot of space in the waste stream and doesn’t biodegrade.

ReFoamIt, a Framingham-based company, is one of the only Styrofoam recyclers in this area.

How do they collect this Styrofoam? They have collection days and invite people to bring their styrofoam.

And guess what? Westford will be having a Styrofoam collection at the upcoming Green Living Fair on April 2 at the First Parish Church. You can bring everything from packing peanuts to plastic utensils. The cost is $1 per bag or $5 per car load. Styrofoam should be clean and have the recycling symbol #6 on it. Donations are appreciated, though not required. A full list of what is and isn't accepted can be found below.

The company takes the Styrofoam and compresses it into large, dense blocks. These blocks are then turned into pellets that can be used to make such things as car bumpers or picture frames.

The fair is free and will include other green vendors, speakers, food, workshops, and activities for the kids.

Here's a list of what is accepted:

• Packing blocks
• Packing peanuts (must snap)
• Produce and meat trays (no biodegradable ones)
• Takeout food containers
• Dunkin Donuts' and Honey Dew coffee cups (No Starbucks or McDonald's cups because they have cardboard infused on them)
• Trays
• Plastic utensils (Must be kept separate from any of the above Styrofoam pieces)
• White insulation sheets
• Blue and pink Insulation sheets. Must be close to full size

Here's a list of what isn't accepted:

• Bubble wrap
• Soft foam
• Biodegradable packing peanuts
• Corn-based products
• Soft foam pads
• Blue or pink insulation sheets in small pieces

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