Cayuga County’s first post-holiday styrofoam recycling event has proven a success.
In partnership with the Cayuga County Department of Planning & Economic Development, the local environmental group Cayuga Climate Action (CCA) was able to hold its first annual styrofoam recycling event on January 6. Residents had the opportunity to bring used white polystyrene to one of four drop-off locations throughout the county for recycling.
Dominic Gambaiani with CCA told Finger Lakes News Radio they were able to fill two 9′ box trucks with styrofoam.
“That equates to about 492 cubic feet… and when you convert that into oil barrels that’s about 88 barrels of oil that we are able to prevent from going into a landfill,” Gambaiani said.
He added that styrofoam is not able to be recycled curbside in Cayuga County. This means that the petroleum product would have gone to either Seneca Meadows or the Ontario County Landfill had it not been recycled at the event.
The styrofoam collected at the four sites was taken to Thermal Foams Inc. in Cicero where it was baled and taken to Canada for recycling.
Gabaiani was incredibly grateful for Thermal Foams’ assistance and noted that they accept drop-offs from individuals year-round.
CCA is currently working with Planning & Economic Development to implement the styrofoam recycling day as an official annual event, possibly moving it to a warmer time of year or creating a second event for the warmer months. This would be similar to the department’s electronics and household hazardous waste recycling events.
