Dart Container Corporation unveils its new polystyrene foam recycling drop-off site in Corona, CA.

24/10/2008 07:48:47

Corona, CA: Dart Container Corporation opened its newest postconsumer polystyrene foam (commonly known as Styrofoam®, a registered trademark of The Dow Chemical Company) drop-off site at its Corona, Calif. plant. This is the Inland Empire’s first such facility to accept foam food service containers (cups, plates, bowls, clamshells) as well as shape or molded foam packaging, often used to package electronics.

This event was attended by Corona Mayor Jeff Miller, Corona City Councilmember Eugene Montanez, Keep California Beautiful President Kris McNamara, and by representatives of State Senator Jim Battin and State Assemblyman John Benoit. Dozens of local residents brought loads of polystyrene foam during the event.

After Corona Mayor Jeff Miller presented Dart with a key to the City of Corona, Dart offered a tour of its collection facility that included a demonstration of its proprietary foam densifier. Since polystyrene foam is more than 95 percent air, the densifier compacts a pile of foam the size of a car into a cylinder the size of a five-gallon bucket. The event concluded with a barbeque.

Christine Flowers-Ewing, Executive Director of Keep California Beautiful noted, “To deal with the problem at hand; Keep California Beautiful has been encouraging communities and industry partners to find better ways to use less, recycle more, and get involved as part of a solution. By providing a regional collection point in the Inland Empire, Dart, as a manufacturer of the product, is contributing to the solution.” Jeff Miller also acknowledged the leadership role that Dart is taking to help develop the expanded polystyrene collection infrastructure statewide and said “It is nice to see a food service company step-up voluntarily to facilitate the recycling of their products.”

This is Dart’s seventh company-owned drop-off facility. Dart Container Corporation, the world’s largest maker of foam cups, is a leading manufacturer of quality single-use products for the foodservice, retail, and food packaging industries. Dart strives to produce high-quality, cost-effective products in a manner sensitive to environmental concerns. Dart has received awards and commendations from McDonald’s Corporation, the State of California Environmental Protection Agency Integrated Waste Management Board and the State of Illinois House of Representatives for this work.

This new facility is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Instructions for foam recycling include:

• All foam must bear the “6” symbol with chasing arrows.

Instructions for drop-off include:

• All foam must be contained within a sealed clear or translucent plastic bag.
• All cups and containers must be reasonably clean.
• No straws or lids.
• Shape or molded foam should be bagged separately from food service containers.
• Make sure your foam bears the “6” symbol with chasing arrows.

To schedule large deliveries, call (951) 735-8115
Questions? Go to www.dart.biz  or call 1-800-288-CARE.
Please note: Foam packaging peanuts and polystyrene foam treated with a fire retardant are not accepted.
Many retail shipping companies accept clean foam packaging peanuts for reuse.