In Local 20/20’s February Port Townsend Leader column, Polly Lyle shared the current data regarding the Port Townsend StyroCyclers, a Local 20/20 Beyond Waste Project, including that since October 2021, they have recycled 20 Tons of expanded polystyrene foam from East Jefferson County residents and businesses! See full article below.
Port Townsend StyroCyclers – 20 Tons So Far!
By Polly Lyle
Since October 2021, Port Townsend StyroCyclers, a Local 20/20 Beyond Waste Project, has recycled approximately 20 tons of expanded polystyrene foam (hereafter styrofoam/EPS) and low-density polystyrene foam (LDPE-4) from East Jefferson County residents and businesses.
Once a month, our densely packed, yellow bags (each 20-25 pounds) are transferred to a 53-foot Northwest Harvest tractor-trailer for a trip to Styro Recycle, LLC in Kent. Secure packaging is essential when transferring styrofoam in food trucks.
Northwest Harvest delivers food to the food bank in Port Angeles. Its tractor-trailer would have otherwise been traveling back to Auburn empty if it weren’t for our materials hitching a free ride.
We only take what our recycler takes. That is, white styrofoam/EPS, all colors of LDPE-4, white styrofoam/EPS food trays, and separated biodegradable (squishy) versus EPS/styrofoam (crispy) packing peanuts (no mixtures).
At the recycler, densifier machines separately chop the styrofoam/EPS and LDPE-4 (over 90% air/gases) and then use relatively low heat to convert them into toothpaste-like flows that cool into heavy blocks, which are in high demand because they are less expensive than virgin plastic. The densified materials can be molded into items such as picture frames and building materials.
The StyroCyclers operate out of Fort Worden’s Battery Putnam. We use every cubic inch of the Battery’s three rooms: one for intake and packing, one for storage of packed bags, and one for packing-peanut processing and additional packed-bag storage.
We take pride in our invisible presence at the Fort, except when the heavy black metal doors are open for our recycling operations; otherwise, we leave no trace to distract from visitors’ enjoyment of the state park’s history and beauty.
We hope to get out of the styrofoam recycling business one day and encourage those who receive styrofoam packaging to request that providers switch to biodegradable packaging. Progress is being made–we are fortunate to live in Washington state where styrofoam/EPS packing peanuts and other void-filling packaging, food containers, and most non-medical coolers/boxes are banned.
The StyroCyclers usually accept pre-sorted materials on the 1st Tuesday and 3rd Saturday each month, 10:00 am to noon, at Fort Worden Battery Putnam, which is very close to Alexander’s Castle (229 Alexander’s Loop). Collection events and schedule changes (e.g., weather cancellations) are announced via NextDoor and our Facebook page. Volunteers pick up styrofoam/EPS at medical facilities, pharmacies and other businesses, and selected neighborhoods, delivering it to Battery Putnam for packing throughout the month.
We are grateful to Fort Worden/Washington State Parks; Northwest Harvest; Styro Recycle, LLC; Port of Port Townsend; styrofoam and financial donors; and our many volunteers.
Wondering how you can help support this work? We accept voluntary monetary donations at our collection events and via the Local 20/20 web site. Please contact us if you have trucking available for transporting our bagged materials from Fort Worden to our Jefferson County Airport transfer point once per month and/or if you’d like to volunteer with us.
Our Email is PTStyroCyclers@gmail.com. We are on Facebook as Port Townsend StyroCyclers Styrofoam Recycling.
Bio: Polly Lyle is a retired pharmaceutical research scientist who has lived in Port Townsend for 19 years and is a member of the Local 20/20 Beyond Waste action group. She leads the Port Townsend StyroCyclers.
