Most likely, No… But check with your recycling facility! Sometimes, some Centres take them.
Examples of Foam Packaging:
Foam packaging can be recognized as polystyrene, styrofoam, EPE or EPS. And you can find it as:
- Takeout containers, plates, bowls and cups
- Packing peanuts
- Foam blocks used as cushion packaging to protect new products.
- Egg cartons and meat trays
- Floral foam
- Packaging sleeves, sheets and bags
- Plant-based and bio-based foam packaging, such as Green Cell foam.
- Foam cushion packaging
- Biodegradable dissolving packaging peanuts
Once again, they go directly to contaminate our planet, into the garbage bin. Or you can seek a place that takes them for proper disposal or future uses.
How to dispose of them correctly?
- Remove all tape and labels from the foam packaging
- It must be clean with no food residue. Remove absorbent pads from meat trays and rinse takeout containers.
- Do NOT put them in the recycling bin! They contaminate other recyclables.
Why Foam Packaging Can’t Be Recycled?
You can’t put foam packaging into your recycling bin because it can damage the sorting machines, as the material is too light, and contaminates other recyclables. Foam packaging contaminates compost and the land.
It doesn’t matter that the foam packaging is labelled as biodegradable or compostable; usually, these types of foam materials do not break down properly at the facility. They may contain synthetic plastic parts that will contaminate the compost. This includes the corn-based and starch foam.