How to Recycle & ReUse Polystyrene aka Styrofoam

Finished path with polystyrene weed block

Polystyrene, in its' myriad forms, is hard to avoid and there are currently few recycling or re-use option. There are some approaches that will lessen the impact.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Polystyrene blocks, peanuts, food containers, scissors, shovel (pick axe if your ground is hard), pathscaping materials of choice (bricks, rocks, gravel, sand, wood chips, etc)

1. Polystyrene Block (often pre formed to protect electronics or in rectangular blocks for other packaging uses): Contact your local waste management agency for locations that accept for recycling or go to http://search.earth911.com if the packaging is marked #6. The industry EPS Packaging website is a joke because their list of Drop Off Locations gives no actual addresses, just phone numbers http://www.epspackaging.org/pdf/AFPR%20Website%20Recycling%20Locations%2010-18-08.pdf . There is more used polystyrene than there is demand for it so there is no reason for them to make this easy.

   If you cannot find a local dropoff, consider using it as insulation in your attic or elsewhere. Some hardware stores will actually sell you polystyrene insulation that looks like oversized egg cartons but why pay?

   Write your legislators at all levels asking for law change that bans or restricts the use of polystyrene until there is demand and technology to fully recycle it in an energy efficient manner.

2. Polystyrene Packaging Peanuts: Take to your local UPS, Mailboxes Etc, Postal Annex or other packaging mailing center (not USPS). Most gladly accept the peanuts for re-use because it keeps down their materials costs.

3. Polystyrene Food Packaging: YUK!!! No one has figured out how to recycle it (& no one seems to be trying). Step 1 is to avoid it by encouraging your butchers and restaurants to use alternatives or by frequenting vendors that use more earth friendly alternatives. But, if you're reading this you're still sitting on a trove so on to step 4, weed block for your garden paths...

4. Layout your pathways. Dig out dirt to about 6" deep. Smooth and compact the path bed.

5. Half clamshell with incised corners

   Cut styro clamshells in half. With scissors incise each corner so the sides can lay flat. Stack the containers and find a way to keep them from blowing (bricks, stones or keep in a lidded container) .

6. Mosaic of clamshells with rocks before covering with fill gravel and dirt.

   Lay the styro end to end placing several course rocks on each to keep from blowing. I overlap the ends slightly putting most of the rocks on the overlap area since the sides tend to want to go up. Continue filling trays with rock then fill with gravel or sand. (Note: I actually use dirt i between but we have very dry weather and the few weeds that grow do not flourish because the roots can't go very deep). Tamp, water and continue filling with gravel & sand til smooth

   The square clamshell work best for the central core of the path. I use meat trays to fill in edges and cut for odd sized spaces and in the exposed corners between the clamshells. The less visible dirt, the more effective the barrier.

7. Optionally you can lay a weed barrier cloth over the base layer before laying your brick or finishing stones on top. Enjoy your walkway!

Tips & Warnings

• Wear sturdy covered toe shoes when using the pick axe. Take frequent breaks, lift with legs not back, and hydrate often to avoid muscle damage.