New Equipment Increases Foam Polystyrene Recycling in Metro Albuquerque

ABQ Foam Recycling/The Foam Recycler, a polystyrene foam recycling service in central New Mexico,
received a $38,800 grant from the Foodservice Packaging Institute’s Foam Recycling Coalition (FRC) to
fund the purchase and installation of a foam densifier.

Densifiers are used to compact #6 foam products, such as cups, plates, clamshells, egg cartons and block
packaging foam, into foam blocks or ingots. The facility sells the foam ingots to end markets in
California, New Jersey and Canada to be manufactured into picture frames, light switch covers, crown
molding and electronic cases.

ABQ Foam Recycling/The Foam Recycler services a population of almost 1 million people in metro
Albuquerque through a drop‐off location, community events and commercial pick‐up service.
“We are looking to not only lead in recycling polystyrene foam materials in New Mexico, but also serve
as educators on recycling these materials,” said Tom Spadafora of ABQ Foam Recycling/The Foam
Recycler. “Repurposing foam materials and keeping it out of landfills is our top priority.”

Residents and businesses in the metro Albuquerque area will see the service promoted via local
municipality partnerships, social media, local publications, neighborhood associations, and other local
and regional engagements.

“ABQ Foam Recycling/The Foam Recycler is extending polystyrene foam recycling to a significant
residential population and commercial sector in the metro Albuquerque area,” said Natha Dempsey,
president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute. “Supporting programs that provide access to additional
foam recycling and divert the material from landfills and into new products is at the heart of the Foam
Recycling Coalition.”

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.

The Foam Recycler is the 32nd grant recipient to receive FRC funding since 2015. Over 12 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.