What's an ecologically acceptable way to dispose of Styrofoam packaging?

[Orrex]

I have a bunch of Styrofoam inserts from various purchases, as well as enough peanuts to feed every synthetic elephant on Earth.

What's the best way to dispose of them? The local recycling center won't take them.

Should I compost them? In my neighbor's compost heap?

[Richardo]

1. I dissolve it in gasoline and dump it in the nearest storm drain

...but that's just me.

[Rosie1223]

2. Some foam peanuts are biodegradeable

see if they dissolve in water.

[LaurenG]

3. My dad recycled his by sending all kinds of things to us with chunks of styrofoam and peanuts

in things that did not need packing. In turn I did the same to my kids. We've been sending the same peanuts (with new ones added if we get them) back and forth for 4 years now.

Otherwise I don't know what to do with them.

[femmocrat]

6. Mailboxes Etc. used to take the peanuts back.

Maybe some other packaging places re-cycle them? :shrug:

We do the same... we reuse them for sending packages.

[femmocrat]

4. I don't think they ever decompose, but I reuse them in flower pots.

I break them up and put them in the bottom for drainage. Much lighter than stones or clay pieces (who has those anyhow?).

And we also reuse them for packing fragile items.

If anyone knows where I can get about 100 of the same kind and size, I would love to have them for school, for the kids to paint.

[HopeHoops]

5. Re-use. You can't burn them and decomposition has a half-life.

Other than that, landfill is the best - unfortunately.

[MineralMan]

7. Put an ad in the Free section of

Craigs List in your area, or on freecycle, if you have that. The ebay sellers are always on the hunt for free packing materials...especially peanuts, but the styrofoam inserts are also of use. They like good clean, empty boxes, too.

Otherwise, I can't think of a thing to do with them.

[arcadian]

8. Burn it on a heap with any oil drums of dioxin you may have lying around.

[LynneSin]

9. Could I toss these old thermometers I own in that fire too

:hide:

[Kickin_Donkey]

10. Most shipping/mailing stores like Postnet and Mailboxes Etc. ...

will accept the peanuts for reuse. Just drop them off.

As for the big styrofoam blocks -- I have a lot of them because I recently bought a lot of furniture and appliances -- I'm lucky enough to be near a city, Roseville, Calif., that has a styrofoam recycling program. If I'm going in that direction, I load up my car and drop off the styrofoam in their collection bins. They actually recycle rather than reuse the styrofoam.

Of course, your city many not have a recycling program, but if you can find within, say, 50 miles, you can save up your styrofoam and dump it when you go in that direction (I'd never make a special trip to drop off the styrofoam, as the burning of gas just for that would negate any benefit from recycling the styrofoam).

I'm glad I found an outlet for recycling styrofoam; it's a load off my conscience.

[no name no slogan]

11. Burn it. In a landfill. With gasoline.

:thumbsup:

[petronius]

12. I just chop it up and eat it. With milk and sugar it's pretty good, and as roughage

it just can't be beat...

[snooper2]

13. Break the big stuff down and throw it in your attic

just more insulation :)