Styrofoam Recycling Event Happens Later This Month

This free recycling event is a collaborative effort made possible by a handful of different organizations.

Image courtesy: williamsburgclimate.org

(SALEM, Ore.) - The United Methodists of Salem-Keizer, PLC Recycling in Portland, Willamette University, and Marion County Public Works – Environmental Services will hold another Styrofoam recycling collection event at no cost on Saturday, June 14, 2008.

The Styrofoam may be dropped off at Willamette University’s Sparks parking lot, located next to the soccer field at the corner of 12th Street and Bellevue Street in Salem. The one day event is from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (or until the collection trailers are full).

This one-day-only, rain-or-shine event will be for clean and dry block packing foams, meat trays, and Styrofoam egg cartons, clam shells, and cups. Foam blocks with tape and construction foams will not be accepted. Packing peanuts will also not be accepted, but most mailing stores will accept them for free.

The foam will be taken to PLC Recycling, a Portland business that has the ability to recycle Styrofoam. Styrofoam is not recyclable through curbside programs in Marion County. The company removes the styrene gas and mixes the foam plastic with other types of plastic which is then sold to a company that makes high-end picture frames.

This free recycling event is a collaborative effort made possible by a handful of different organizations. Volunteers from the United Methodists of Salem-Keizer will be on hand to collect the Styrofoam blocks. PLC Recycling is the parent company of Compost Oregon, the company that processes all of the yard debris collected in Marion County. PLC Recycling has donated their trucks to transport it to Portland and they will also recycle the material. Willamette University has donated the use of their parking lot.

The event is free to residents and businesses and any donations received will support the Marion-Polk Food Share. Individuals that would like to be notified of future events can call the County at 503-588-5169 and ask to be added to the “Styrofoam Notification List.”

The County plans to hold more frequent events and is working to establish a permanent drop-off location for styrofoam. “Our office receives calls every day from people and businesses that want to recycle styrofoam. This one day event will give people the option to recycle it,” said Bailey Payne, recycling coordinator for the Public Works Environmental Services Division.