Expanded Polystyrene (#6 plastic) is one of the hardest materials to recycle in the US. Here is what you need to know about proper disposal.
Note
This guide provides general recycling information based on common US municipal standards. Recycling rules vary by location, so please check with your local waste management authority for specific guidelines in your area.
"Styrofoam" is a common name people use for Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), which is classified as #6 plastic (polystyrene). Technically, Styrofoam is a brand name owned by Dow Chemical for extruded polystyrene insulation, but in everyday language it refers to the lightweight, white foam material found in packaging and food containers.
EPS is made up of about 95-98% air, which makes it extremely lightweight but also bulky and difficult to handle in recycling streams. It is widely used because it is cheap, insulating, and shock-absorbent, but these same properties make it one of the most problematic materials for waste management.
| Type | Examples | Curbside Recyclable? | Proper Disposal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Containers | Takeout boxes, cups, plates, bowls, egg cartons (foam type) | No (most areas) | Trash (black/gray bin) |
| Protective Packaging | Molded inserts for electronics, appliances, furniture | No (most areas) | Specialty drop-off or trash |
| Packaging Peanuts | Loose-fill packing peanuts | No | Reuse or return to shipping stores |
| Insulation Board | Rigid foam panels (pink, blue, or white) | No | Construction waste recycler or trash |
| Coolers / Ice Chests | Disposable foam coolers | No | Specialty drop-off or trash |
| Meat / Produce Trays | White foam trays from grocery stores | No (most areas) | Trash (food-contaminated) |
Most US curbside recycling programs do NOT accept Styrofoam / EPS. According to the EPA, polystyrene has one of the lowest recycling rates of any plastic type. If your area does not have a specialty drop-off program, EPS goes in the regular trash.
Because most curbside recycling programs reject EPS, proper disposal depends on what options are available in your community. Follow these steps to determine the right approach.
Visit your city or county waste management website to confirm whether your curbside program accepts EPS. Most do not, but some communities have added it. Search "[your city] recycling guidelines" online.
Many areas have specialty EPS drop-off locations at recycling centers, grocery stores, or shipping retailers. The Foam Recycling Coalition (foamrecycling.org) maintains a drop-off locator.
If you find a program that accepts EPS, remove all food residue, tape, labels, and stickers. Only clean, white EPS is accepted. Break it into manageable pieces if needed.
Place the EPS in your regular trash bin (black or gray bin). Break large pieces into smaller chunks to save space. Do NOT place it in your blue recycling bin.
A small but growing number of municipalities and private recyclers accept clean EPS. If you are fortunate enough to have this option:
Loose-fill packaging peanuts deserve special attention because they have strong reuse options even though they are not curbside recyclable.
Before disposing of packing peanuts, determine what they are made of. Run one under water: if it dissolves, it is starch-based (cornstarch) and can be composted or dissolved in water down the drain. If it does not dissolve, it is polystyrene foam.
If your packing peanuts dissolve in water, they are made from cornstarch and are fully biodegradable. You can add them to your home compost bin, dissolve them in water, or place them in your green compost bin if your municipality accepts compostable materials.
Loose packing peanuts cause serious problems at recycling facilities. They are too small and lightweight to be sorted properly, they blow around the facility, jam equipment, and contaminate bales of other recyclable materials. Always reuse, return to a shipping store, or place them in the trash.
Some newer products are marketed as "biodegradable foam" or "plant-based foam." These are typically made from materials like mushroom mycelium, cornstarch, or other bio-based polymers. While they are better for the environment, they should NOT be mixed with EPS recycling streams. Follow the disposal instructions on the packaging -- many can go in a commercial composting bin but not in home compost.
Fact: The vast majority of US curbside recycling programs do NOT accept EPS. According to the EPA, only about 12% of polystyrene waste was recycled in 2018. Placing it in your blue bin contaminates other materials and can cause an entire truckload of recyclables to be diverted to landfill. Always check with your local program first.
Fact: EPS is extremely resistant to natural decomposition. Scientists estimate it takes 500 years or more to break down in a landfill. Even then, it does not truly decompose -- it fragments into smaller and smaller pieces of microplastic that persist in the environment indefinitely.
Fact: Burning polystyrene releases styrene gas, carbon black, and carbon monoxide -- all of which are hazardous to human health. Styrene is classified as a possible carcinogen. Open burning of Styrofoam is illegal in most US jurisdictions and poses serious health risks to you and your neighbors.
Fact: There are several types of foam that look similar but have different compositions. EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) is rigid and crumbly. EPE (Expanded Polyethylene) is flexible and spongy. Polyurethane foam is soft and springy (used in furniture cushions). Each has different disposal requirements and none of them go in curbside recycling.
Fact: Even small pieces cause problems. EPS crumbles into tiny beads that spread throughout the recycling facility, contaminating paper, cardboard, and other materials. Recycling facility operators report that polystyrene contamination is one of their biggest challenges and a major reason recyclable loads get rejected.
While Styrofoam recycling infrastructure is limited, it is growing. More communities are adding EPS drop-off programs, and new technologies like chemical recycling (depolymerization) are making it possible to convert EPS back into raw polystyrene for manufacturing. Supporting and using these programs when available helps build the case for expanded EPS recycling infrastructure.
Styrofoam is one of the most environmentally problematic materials in common use. Understanding its impact helps explain why proper disposal matters so much.
| Material | Time to Decompose |
|---|---|
| Paper bag | 1 month |
| Cardboard box | 2 months |
| Plastic bag | 10-20 years |
| Aluminum can | 80-200 years |
| Plastic bottle | 450 years |
| Styrofoam / EPS | 500+ years |
Styrene, the chemical building block of polystyrene, has been classified by the National Toxicology Program as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen." Workers in polystyrene manufacturing facilities and people who regularly eat hot food from Styrofoam containers may have elevated exposure to styrene. This is one of the reasons many cities have moved to ban EPS food containers.
The most effective way to address the Styrofoam problem is to reduce the amount you use in the first place. Here are practical alternatives and actions you can take.
When ordering online, look for "minimal packaging" or "frustration-free packaging" options. Contact sellers to request reduced foam use.
Purchasing from local stores reduces the need for shipping packaging altogether. Farmers markets, local shops, and in-store pickup eliminate foam entirely.
Many US cities including New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Seattle, and Portland have banned EPS food containers. Support similar legislation in your community.
When you receive excessive foam packaging, contact the company to request they switch to sustainable alternatives. Consumer feedback drives corporate change.
A growing number of US cities and states have enacted bans or restrictions on polystyrene foam, particularly for food service containers. Notable examples include:
Check whether your city or state has similar legislation in place or under consideration.
You do not have to eliminate all Styrofoam from your life overnight. Start with one or two changes -- like bringing a reusable coffee cup or choosing restaurants that avoid foam -- and build from there. Reducing demand for EPS is the single most effective way to address its environmental impact. When you do end up with Styrofoam, dispose of it properly: check for local drop-off programs first, and place it in the trash if no recycling option exists.