Washington state opens public foam recycling center

Nov. 6 -- A public foam container recycling center in the state of Washington has opened.

Dart Container Corporation, in conjunction with Thurston County Solid Waste, today unveiled in Tumwater its latest post-consumer foam recycling drop-off site.

This is one of the state´s first public sites to accept foam food service containers, including foam cups, plates, take-out containers, egg cartons, as well as shaped or molded foam often used to package electronics. The Thurston County site is Dart´s ninth drop-off location in the country. The company said recycled foam can be made into new products such as picture frames and moldings.

Once foam is dropped off at Dart, it is then compacted and shipped to a company that will use it as feedstock to make new materials. To be accepted for recycling, the foam must bear the "6" symbol with chasing arrows.

Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Amanda Smith-Teutsch at 330-865-6166 or asmith-teutsch@crain.com