Block Foam recycling returns to Lane County!

As you may know, for the past five years NextStep has been the only resource for Lane County residents to recycle their block foam (EPS foam or, commonly called Styrofoam). In August, we stopped taking the material because it was no longer financially feasible for us to handle this material. Community members have been understanding but really hoped we could find another solution.

Well, it's here! Our recycling pals over at St Vincent De Pauls are now taking block foam from the public-residents and business alike! Woo hoo!

NextStep Recycling remains very interested in your peanuts, bubble wrap and any other clean packaging material so we can REUSE it to send out merchandise purchased through Ebay or their online store, and to ship computers to folks nationally through our Technology Grant Program.

Here are the details from our fab Master Recycler Coordinator, Kelly Bell:

The machine that will compact the styrofoam was purchased with funds from tipping fees at the landfill and designated to St. Vincent de Paul by Lane County Commissioners.
Process: Block foam (no food containers - no exceptions) will be compacted in the machine housed in St. Vinnie’s Woodshop on Prairie Road. These blocks will then be shipped to recyclers in Portland or California and will be used in one of two applications - mixed with resin and extruded as architectural components or reconstituted back into a petroleum product - sweet crude oil. Approximately 4 cubic feet = 1 gallon of sweet crude oil

Please note: Beginning today (November 9th, 2009) and continuing for one month, SVDP will accept styrofoam blocks from households at no charge. After that, the fees for processing and shipping will be:
1 piece up to 20 gallons - 50 cents
$3 per 20 gallon bag
Plastic coated foam - $1 minimum - $4 for bag. (Example: block foam bricks wrapped in thick grey or silver plastic film)

Businesses should call 687-5820 for a price quote.

Your foam can be dropped off at the following SVDP locations:
705 Seneca Road in Eugene
201 Division in Eugene
4555 Main Street in Springfield