The Coon Rapids Recycling Center received a $50,000 grant from the Foam Recycling Coalition (FRC) to increase the recycling center’s capacity to manage, process and recycle more post-consumer foam polystyrene, including foodservice packaging and protective packaging.
The Coon Rapids Recycling Center, a residential drop off center located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, focuses on materials that cannot be recycled at curbside — items ranging from carpet to appliances and electronics. The FRC funding, along with funding from a state of Minnesota Capital Improvement Project grant, allows the center to expand their current operations, purchasing equipment to assist in additional foam polystyrene recovery and performing maintenance and repairs to their existing foam densifier.
The recycling center accepts common household recyclable materials, oil and oil filters, scrap metal, organic food waste, electronic waste, batteries, mattresses and other materials. With a repaired densifier and new forklift, the center can expand their current foam polystyrene recycling program to accept foam foodservice packaging, cups, trays and other containers.
“It’s terrific to see more foam material coming to our recycling center. But with the increase, we needed to expand, find a solution to maintain our existing equipment and handle additional material,” said Colleen Sinclair, City of Coon Rapids recycling coordinator. “The Foam Recycling Coalition grant means we can continue serving our residents and collecting these recyclable materials for the foreseeable future.”
Coon Rapids is the 18th grant recipient to receive FRC funding since 2015. Over 3 million additional residents in the U.S. and Canada can recycle foam as a result of FRC grants. “We work with forward thinking communities, like the City of Coon Rapids to expand recycling programs for their residents,” said Natha Dempsey, president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute, which houses the coalition. “We’ve kicked off another year of FRC grants to continue to fund innovative programs that will help recover foam polystyrene packaging throughout North America.”
The 2021 Foam Recycling Coalition grant application process is open to public and private entities. Applications are due May 28, 2021.