The City of San Diego is expanding its curbside recycling program within city limits, adding polystyrene food service containers to the lineup in its curbside recycling program. “By expanding what we’re able to recycle, we’re moving in the right direction as we try to reduce, reuse and recycle as much of the trash we collect every day as we can,” said Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer said in a statement.
Effective July 1, 2017, San Diego residents can now include coffee cups, plates, takeout containers and other items made from polystyrene foam #6 in their curbside bins.
This change is a step forward for the city’s “Zero Waste” plan, which aims to reuse the city’s trash by 2040, rather than throwing it away. San Diego’s recycling program now makes it easier for residents to properly dispose of their foam foodservice containers, and it helps to divert waste from the city’s Miramar Landfill.
Local businesses and small restaurants also have reason to celebrate this exciting change. Because of its insulation, durability, and low cost, polystyrene foam products are a logical choice for many businesses and restaurants. With this addition to the curbside recycling program, consumers now have a convenient way to recycle foam foodservice items acquired while eating out or shopping the town.
Once recycled, polystyrene foam can be transformed into consumer items we use each day like picture frames, rulers, and interior moulding. Learn more about products that come from foam #6.