New Foam Recycling Capabilities Further Reduce Landfill Reliance for Over 50 Ohio Communities

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The Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District (SWMD), serving over 121,000 households in Geauga and Trumbull counties in Ohio, received a $50,000 grant from the Foodservice Packaging Institute’s Foam Recycling Coalition (FRC). The grant enables nearly 300,000 residents in both counties to recycle materials such as foam polystyrene cups, plates, bowls, clamshells, egg cartons and meat trays, as well as block packaging foam.

Aided by Representative Diane Grendell, Ohio House District 76, additional funding was provided by the State of Ohio to support the program’s creation and initial implementation.
The FRC grant assisted with funding the purchase and installation of a foam densifier, used to compact foam products into foam blocks or ingots. The district sells the foam ingots to end markets to be manufactured into thermal insulation panels for foundations, walls and roofs, as well as picture frames and crown molding.

Residents of the 56 communities making up Geauga and Trumbull counties can take their polystyrene foam to both the Trumbull County facility, as well as the new facility in Geauga County, where it will be processed through the foam densifier. The district is evaluating the option to expand foam collection to its existing Trumbull County facility and transport the materials to the Geauga facility for processing.

“The new Geauga collection facility is the culmination of over five years of planning and efforts from residents, community officials and county government,” said Jennifer Jones, director for Geauga-Trumbull SWMD. “Over 6,800 residents have already taken advantage of our recycling services there, and adding foam recycling will only enhance our ability to meet the needs of Geauga and Trumbull County residents. Foam recycling has been highly requested and will be a great addition to the year-round offering at both of our collection facilities.”
Geauga-Trumbull SWMD will inform residents about the addition of foam polystyrene recycling via communications, including a website, social media, press releases and local media coverage, along with a group email to preregistered attendees of collection events, signage at the community drop-off sites, flyers and short videos.

“It is encouraging to see the passion of Geauga-Trumbull residents and the efforts of the solid waste management district to find ways to improve and increase recycling in their communities,” said Natha Dempsey, president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute. “We are proud to support the diversion of foam polystyrene, a valuable material, from the landfill.”

The grant is 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.

Geauga-Trumbull SWMD is the 33rd grant recipient to receive FRC funding since 2015. Over 10 million additional residents in the U.S. and Canada can recycle foam polystyrene because of FRC grants. Visit www.RecycleFoam.org to learn more about foam recycling, read about previous recipients or apply for a grant.

Foodservice Packaging Institute’s Efforts Enable Over 7 Million Additional Households to Recycle Cups and Take-out Containers

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The Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI) encourages the responsible use of all foodservice packaging (FSP) and serves as the voice of the industry representng manufacturers and their raw material and machinery suppliers. Through its efforts in collaboratve programs, research, grants and advocacy, the organizaton has spearheaded the advancement of recycling take-out containers, such as plastc cups and containers, paper cups, paper bags, pizza boxes and aluminum trays.

“Eating out or on-the-go is a regular part of the American culture. Ensuring take-out containers are manufactured responsibly and recovered effectvely are priorites to FPI members,” said Natha Dempsey, president of FPI. “That is why we have invested in sustainable, long-term efforts dedicated to quantifying, communicating and improving the recycling of foodservice packaging.”

Community Partnership Program

FPI’s Community Partnership program has helped expand foodservice packaging recycling opportunites to over 7 million additonal households since its incepton in 2017. The program facilitates engagement between communities, haulers, material recovery facilities (MRFs) and end markets. The goal is to add a suite of foodservice packaging to curbside recycling and/or composting programs.

Partners can include individual communities, multiple communities in a metro or regional area, state agencies, haulers and MRFs. To date, over 24 partners have participated in more than 20 regional areas impacting over 500 individual communities, including:

  • Athens-Clarke County, GA
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Brunswick County, NC
  • Catawba County, NC
  • Chattanooga, TN
  • Chicago, IL
  • Clark County, IN
  • Dallas, TX
  • Dekalb County, GA
  • Denver, CO
  • Detroit, MI
  • East Lansing, MI
  • Kent County, MI
  • Lansing, MI
  • Louisville, KY
  • Madison, WI
  • Memphis, TN
  • Millennium Recycling, SD
  • New Hanover County, NC
  • St. Lucie County, FL
  • Tulsa, OK
  • Washington, D.C.

“Working with a partner like FPI, we were able to improve the recovery of paper cups and cartons in the communities serviced by Pelliteri Waste Systems,” said David Pelliteri, vice president at Pelliteri. “FPI’s grant and support helped us secure end markets and conduct educational outreach to improve recycling of these materials and keep them out of the landfill.”

The Community Partnership program provides communication grants to help educate residents on how they can recycle items, like cups and take-out containers. Some partners receive equipment grants to help with the sortation of recycled materials. FPI also offers a Resident Education Kit that recycling program coordinators can use in their communications to residents. The kit includes downloadable high-resolution images, customizable flyer templates and best practices available for free to any community.

“Adding materials to the accepted recycling list is no easy feat,” said Kanika Greenlee, Program Management Officer for the City of Atlanta Department of Public Works Office of Solid Waste Services. “Collaborating with FPI empowered Atlanta to add take-out containers, such as paper cups, to our recycling program. This was achieved through engagement with the material recovery facility and regional end markets to ensure a path for collected materials to be made into new products. Additionally, the FPI team supported efforts to educate the nearly 100,000 households we serve to recycle right.”

Industry Advocacy

In addition to the Community Partnership program, FPI is actively working with multiple recycling stakeholders to advance the discussion and acceptance around FSP recovery and to advocate for the inclusion of foodservice items in appropriate recovery streams.

  • End market outreach and testing led to a joint mill statement on paper cup acceptance with end markets representing well over 75% of the U.S. and Canadian mixed paper market.
  • FPI has sponsored research including bale audits, material flow studies, residue research, resident messaging and more.
  • FPI and its paper mill members have developed and proposed a recovered bale specification for post-consumer polycoated paper cups and food and beverage cartons. This grade would formalize a type of polycoated paper bale which is currently being traded as a mill spec bale.

“We are proud of the efforts our team, members, industry collaborators and community partners have made to increase recovery of foodservice packaging,” said Dempsey. “Their dedication and passion to ensure we continue to make responsible and sustainable choices enables FPI to continue to make an impact in communities, economics and the environment.”

More information on FPI’s recovery efforts, studies and education resources can be found at www.RecycleFSP.org.

Current Trends and the Future of Foodservice Packaging: FPI’s Fall 2023 Conference

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The world of foodservice packaging is evolving, driven by advancements in technology, shifts in consumer behavior, and a growing focus on sustainability. If you’re passionate about staying ahead of the curve and shaping the future of this dynamic industry, look no further than our Fall 2023 Conference. This event features a lineup of expert speakers and thought-provoking discussions on current trends.

  • The State of the Foodservice Packaging Industry: FPI will provide an overview of current issues affecting the industry, including legislative and regulatory activity.
    Convenience Store Trends for Foodservice Packaging: Convenience stores have become an integral part of the foodservice ecosystem, offering quick, on-the-go options for busy consumers. What is the latest in this market segment?
  • Catering Trends for Foodservice Packaging: The catering sector is experiencing a growing demand for premium, customizable packaging solutions. Learn about the latest trends in catering packaging that elevate the dining experience.
  • Delivery Trends for Foodservice Packaging: In an era where delivery services have become a cornerstone of the food industry, the right packaging can make all the difference. Learn about the packaging solutions that are optimizing the delivery experience, ensuring that food arrives fresh, hot, and in perfect condition.
  • Consumer Panel: Insights on Packaging from the People Who Matter Most: Who better to offer opinions on foodservice packaging than the consumers themselves? Our panel of local consumers will share their thoughts, preferences, and concerns, providing invaluable feedback that can shape the future of packaging design and functionality.

As usual, our conferences are known for great networking: connect with industry leaders, experts, and fellow enthusiasts who share your passion for foodservice packaging. Forge valuable relationships that could lead to exciting collaborations and opportunities.

Don’t miss out on this experience! Register today and be a part of the conversation that will define the future of foodservice packaging! For more information, please click here and we hope to see you in Pittsburgh!