Since 2015, more than 34 communities, facility operators, non-profits and solid waste authorities have received grants of up to $50,000 from Foodservice Packaging Institute’s Foam Recycling Coalition (FRC) to expand foam polystyrene recycling throughout the United States and Canada. FRC grants have enabled over 11 million additional residents to recycle foam polystyrene like cups, egg cartons, takeout containers and packaging materials.
The 2024 application period is open now through April 22, 2024. Eligible entities must engage in operating a material recovery facility, manage residential curbside recycling programs, or manage a drop-off or convenience site recycling program.
Previous grant awardees have used FRC funding to purchase equipment, including collection bins and foam densifiers, that aid in the efficient collection and on-site material preparation prior to shipping to processors and end markets. No cash match is required. However, additional costs by the grantee may be incurred for related items, such as site preparation, electrical infrastructure, freight, etc.
“Recycling foam is often considered difficult or impractical,” said Natha Dempsey, president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute. “However, with the right collection setup and densifying equipment, it is possible to recycle foam in a cost-effective manner. That is why we offer grants — to raise awareness and help communities recycle more.”
A webinar is being held on Thursday, March 21, at 12:00 p.m. ET, that will provide information about foam recycling, densification and the grant program. Attendees will also hear from past grant recipients:
- Mecklenburg County, North Carolina: The county utilized its $50,000 grant to purchase and install a foam densifier at one of its recycling centers. The county’s efforts have been so successful with its 1 million residents, that a second foam densifier has been added to the program.
- Tiny House Community Development, Greensboro, North Carolina: Part of a collaboration of four non-profit organizations, the groups used a $22,000 grant to establish a drop-off site for foam recycling near downtown Greensboro. The proceeds from selling the recycled, densified foam help provide job training and homes for individuals in the community.
The webinar is free; however, registration is required. For more information, visit Foam Grant Webinar.
Grants are made possible through contributions to FRC, which focuses exclusively on increased recycling of post-consumer foam polystyrene. Its members include Americas Styrenics; Chick-fil-A; CKF Inc.; Dart Container Corp.; Dyne-A-Pak; Genpak; INEOS Styrolution America LLC; Lifoam Industries, LLC; Pactiv Evergreen; and Republic Plastics.