Where should polystyrene be disposed of in the recycling bin?
Styrofoam is a recyclable material, and if disposed of properly, it doesn't pollute and, in fact, gives it a new lease of life. In any case, you need to be able to distinguish it before throwing it in the trash. You can do this by looking for the symbol PS (which stands for polystyrene) on the material, along with the number 6 inside a small triangle of arrows. When you find this symbol, it means you have recyclable polystyrene, which can therefore be used to create new objects.
Not all cities, however, require the same disposal method for polystyrene. Indeed, its waste management varies from municipality to municipality, and it's a good idea to inquire before arbitrarily choosing a bin for it. For example, some municipalities allow all polystyrene to be disposed of in the plastic bin, while others require separation of polystyrene used for food packaging from that used for packaging, which instead goes into the unsorted waste bin.
If the polystyrene packaging material cannot be disposed of as plastic, it will need to be taken to a recycling center or, alternatively, placed in the unsorted waste bin.
Why Styrofoam Doesn't Always Go Into Plastic
Styrofoam recycling isn't always properly practiced, as it depends on the municipality you live in. In fact, in some municipalities, polystyrene for packaging or construction goes directly into the "unsorted" waste bin, while polystyrene used for food packaging goes into the plastics bin.
