The Monroe County Solid Waste Management District will no longer accept expanded polystyrene (EPS), beginning March 16.
“Due to current recycling market conditions, our vendor for plastics, Republic Services, says they can no longer process this material for recycling,” Executive Director Tom McGlasson Jr. says. “At this time, the District has been unable to locate another recycling vendor in the area that is accepting Styrofoam.”
McGlasson says many other waste management districts across the state have also banned the recycling of EPS. He says when it mixes with other materials at recycling facilities, it makes it difficult to sort through and find essential recyclable products such as plastics.
“In order to ensure that the materials we collect at our facilities are recycled and to avoid having recyclable materials sent to a landfill, The District will no longer accept Styrofoam at any of its recycling drop-off centers,” McGlasson says.
The District says the best method for disposing EPS is putting it in the trash. The county’s recycling centers will still be accepting recyclables like paper, rigid plastics, aluminum steel, glass bottles and jars and reusable items.
EPS is commonly confused with Styrofoam, which a unique product made by DuPont. For more information on the differences and correct use of the word visit DuPont's website.
