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Organizing a Polystyrene (Styrofoam) �Collection Event

Plymouth Rotary

November 9, 2022

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Cindy Heath

NH Network Plastics Working Group

Ten Towns Ten Actions Initiative

With slides borrowed from Meghan Theriault, Gilford DPW Director

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EPS = EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE

AKA "STYROFOAM"

98%

AIR

2%

PLASTIC

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Change is Needed at All Levels

  • Home: Toward a plastic free, zero waste home
  • Community: Collections, writing, convening, youth, conservation, learning
  • Regional: systems change around foam recycling
  • Statewide: NH Network Plastics Work Group & Toolkit
  • Nationwide: Extended Producer Responsibility

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Why is EPS a Problem?

  • Made from petroleum with chemicals added

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  • Takes up space in landfills

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  • Incinerated with other trash, releasing toxic fumes

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  • Never breaks down, only degrades

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  • Harmful to the environment, animals, and us at all stages of its life

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ZERO WASTE HIERARCHY

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From the First Collection in Cornish…

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…to 4 collections in Lebanon

264 people from 27 towns filled 3 trailers!

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Additional communities:

Harrisville

Cornish

Windsor, VT

Kendall @ Hanover

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…TO AN EXCITING PARTNERSHIP

NH NETWORK PLASTICS WORK GROUP

Statewide group focused on impact and initiatives related to plastics and the petrochemical industry.

NORTHERN NE ROTARY

District Governors #7850 Mike Carrier,

#7870 John Siemienowicz and #7780 Dick Hall & other rotary members.

FOAM CYCLE, LLC

Company with patented foam densifier unit out of NJ.

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GOALS OF FOAM RECYCLING IN NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND

SAVE MONEY ON TRASH DISPOSAL COSTS

REDUCE FOAM WASTE IN LANDFILLS

GENERATE REVENUE THRU RECYCLING

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Gilford and Lyndonville are Foam Recycling ‘Hubs’

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GILFORD DPW'S ROLE AS HUB LOCATION

COLLECT

PROCESS

STORE

SELL

POSITIVE

REGIONAL

IMPACT

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Gilford’s Foam Densifier

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PLYMOUTH ROTARY CLUB’S OPPORTUNITY

EDUCATION

Promote program both

locally and regionally

TRANSPORT

Offer to transport foam

back to Gilford

COLLECTION

Organize community collection events

FUNDING

Possible funding efforts to

purchase unit

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Foam Collection Steps

  1. Determine the collection site
  2. Find a few covered trailers to collect the foam in
  3. 3. Set the date
  4. Recruit volunteers, assign roles – greeters, traffic flow, inspection, packing
  5. Advertise! Suggest rain or shine to avoid cancellations
  6. Prepare public information handout
  7. Transport foam to Gilford (arrange in advance)
  8. Have fun!
  9. Celebrate your success!

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Public Information Handout

Cover Sheet

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About Foam Packaging

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Public Information Handout

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Sample Letter

(not shown)

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Guide to a ZERO Waste

Future

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Reducing Plastic in Everyday Life

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WHAT CAN BE COLLECTED?

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Thank you!