California City Adds Polystyrene to Collection Program

The city of Long Beach, Calif., announced that clean polystyrene is now being accepted through the city’s residential recycling program. The polystyrene includes both solid polystyrene (e.g. plastic cutlery, and food containers), and foam polystyrene, which is used for drink cups and other packaging materials.

Materials that are now being included are labeled #6. The material includes the following:

• Polystyrene cups and containers

• Packaging, such as eggshell cartons and block packing

• Clamshell packaging

Polystyrene packaging peanuts are not recyclable, but are reusable. However, the city notes that many mailing and packaging stores, including The UPS Store Etc. and FedEx Office will take in donations of clean packaging peanuts.