Putting something in the recycling cart/bin if you don’t know if it is accepted or not is called “wishcycling”. Almost all wishcycling is actual trash because if you have to guess, it’s probably not recycled. Foam is a trash item and recycling contaminant that will take the “scenic” route to landfill.
Foam is called polystyrene (noted as PS or #6 plastic if it’s harder plastic like an unrecyclable red Solo party cup). It is not recycled unless the manufacturer or local retailer has a specialty collection program, which is pretty rare. But that is only for the expanded polystyrene (EPS), which is cleaner and used for packing or gawd awful outdated coolers, not the spongy foodware items.
Meat trays or food clamshells wouldn’t be recycled because of the food contamination.
PS is the bottom feeder of plastics and a scourge in the environment. I hope states start banning it.
Impress your friends at parties with this tidbit:
Clean EPS is actually recycle”able” but rarely gets recycled. The main reason EPS is not recycled is a commodity market issue—recyclers get paid in weight and this stuff is mostly air. So big bulky items take up a lot of space and weigh next to nothing. A truckload would actually LOSE money driving it off the lot. The foam manufacturers will not do much to help the problem because they know it’s a money loser, so they just are not willing to be the solution to create the market forces to help support recycling this stuff.
Packing peanuts can be reused so a local mailing service might take them as a donation if you check first.
But always try and avoid products and companies that use foam. I don’t support a lot of online commerce since that is a huge culprit of this foam problem.
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