The Foam Recycling Coalition has started the 2016 application period for its annual grant program to support increased recycling of packaging made from foam polystyrene. The FRC, part of the Foodservice Packaging Institute, seeks applicants looking to start or strengthen a post-consumer foam polystyrene recycling program. ‘‘Launched last year, the Foam Recycling Coalition’s grant program has already given away almost $100,000,’’ said Lynn Dyer, president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute. ‘‘With greater end-market demand for foam polystyrene equipment and handling, our funding program helps recycling facilities include foam polystyrene in their accepted recycling materials.’’
Last year’s grantees, Denver’s Alpine Waste & Recycling and Colchester County, Nova Scotia, were awarded grants to purchase equipment that provides foam polystyrene recycling services to their communities. A third grantee announcement is imminent. Organizations involved in managing residential curbside recycling programs or material recovery facilities are eligible to apply for funding. Available to both public and private organizations, each grant will range from about $15,000 to $50,000. This initiative helps fund infrastructure for the collection, processing and marketing of products made from foam polystyrene. It targets post-consumer foam polystyrene products, such as foodservice packaging (i.e., cups, plates, bowls, clamshells, cafeteria trays); and other types of packaging, like egg cartons; meat trays; and protective packaging (used when shipping electronics and other fragile items).
Grant amounts will be determined on a case-by-case basis dependent upon equipment needs. No cash match is required, but additional costs may be incurred by the grantee for related items such as site preparation, provision of conveying system, electrical infrastructure, freight and other installation costs. Grantees are required to communicate the addition of foam polystyrene to their recycling program, both directly to households and in their regular communication materials. Grantees also must commit to collecting, processing and marketing foam polystyrene for a minimum of three years, which includes reporting on the volumes to FRC.
The Foam Recycling Coalition was formed in 2014 to focus exclusively on recycling foodservice packaging made from foam. Its members include Americas Styrenics; Cascades Canada ULC; CKF Inc.; Chick-fil-A; Commodore; Convermex; Dart Container Corp.; Dolco Packaging, A Tekni-Plex Company; Dyne-A-Pak; Genpak; Hawaii Foam Products; NOVA Chemicals Corp.; Pactiv Foodservice/Food Packaging; Shell Chemical LP; Styrolution America; and TOTAL Petrochemicals & Refining USA. Additional financial support of the coalition comes from the EPS Industry Alliance.
Application deadline is April 10, 2016. The first 2016 grant recipient will be announced in late spring.
For more information and grant application are available at www.fpi.org/recyclefoam.