Styrofoam is a brand name of expanded polystyrene, or EPS. Recycling it is notoriously inefficient due in part to the small market for the resulting resin and also to the shipping volume of the material. It takes up a lot of space. However, there are creative steps you can take to make sure the EPS isn't sent straight to the landfill, and most of these steps require only minimal effort.
Reuse It
Break large pieces of Styrofoam packing material into smaller blocks that are easier to store and reuse it yourself the next time you're shipping something fragile. Loose fill EPS, or packing peanuts, are handy because they work for packages of all shapes and sizes, but they do take up a little space in the closet.
Donate It
Most packaging and shipping stores, like FedEx or UPS retail locations, are happy to take your unused Styrofoam, and leaving it with them ensures it will get used at least one more time before entering the waste stream. Smaller shops are generally also amenable to donations, although they may only accept the packing peanuts.
Sell It
Businesses that ship goods regularly---or stay-at-home eBay entrepreneurs---actually pay for packing materials, so your used Styrofoam is valuable to them. The American Chemistry Council runs an online service that connects sellers with buyers. You get the benefit of knowing the Styrofoam won't go straight to the landfill, plus a little cash in your pocket, and the buyer gets discounted packing materials for his shipments.
Cook It
If you're a large business that accumulates more Styrofoam than you could possibly reuse, and you can't store it indefinitely, you can at least reduce your costs of disposal by purchasing a melting unit. It looks like a tall oven, and it reduces the Styrofoam to a block of gel. The process sterilizes the Styrofoam and reduces the volume by a factor of 10. What's more, the block of material that emerges is recyclable either at a municipal drop off or through a service that collects it for use in new products.
Drop It Off
While most municipal recycling programs forbid Styrofoam in the curbside pickup bins, they do still offer drop-off points around the locality. Check with your sanitation department for details. There are private recyclers as well that take Styrofoam.
Some cities do accept Styrofoam as a regular curb-side recyclable, so check details in your area before you drive all over town. Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; and Portland, Oregon are three major cities with all-inclusive recycling programs.
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