Environmental News Archive

octubre 30,2015

Mealworms’ efficient guts can digest polystyrene according to new studies

New research suggests that mealworms can safely eat and digest polystyrene foam and other types of plastic. The two studies were recently published in Environmental Science and Technology from co-authors Professor Jun Yang and his doctorate student Yu Yang of Beihang University, and Stanford University engineer Wei-Min Wu. Within their research they found that the inside of a mealworm’s gut contains microorganisms that are able to biodegrade polyethylene and other plastics.

octubre 21,2015

UC Davis’ Green Move-In Recycling Drive Tradition Continues for Sixth Year

Recently, the University of California, Davis, partnered with Dart Container Corporation for a foam packaging recycling drive. Often mistakenly referred to as Styrofoam, a trademark of Dow, the material is widely used to package many items that students bring to school including televisions and other electronics. The effort resulted in half a truckload being collected. The event was the school’s sixth annual recycling drive and took place as freshmen students moved in for the school year.

septiembre 22,2015

New York State Supreme Court Overturns City's Ban on Foam

The New York State Supreme Court today overturned Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia’s decision to ban foam foodservice items, clearing the way for the City to embrace a recycling program that would cover 100 percent of polystyrene products and generate new revenue for the City.

septiembre 18,2015

Dart Container Returns to Great American River Clean Up For Eighth Year of Foam Cup and Foam Packaging Recycling

For the eighth consecutive year, Dart Container is bringing foam (often mistakenly referred to as “Styrofoam,” a registered trademark of Dow Chemical) recycling, education and volunteer efforts to the Great American River Clean Up. Last year, over 1,500 volunteers removed more than 21,000 pounds of trash and debris.

julio 30,2015

EPS ban could impact senior care

A ban on certain expanded polystyrene (EPS) in New York City is going to make an impact on senior living facilities. Polystyrene foam cups have advantages over paper cups in settings that cater to seniors. Healthcare providers will be forced to pay wholesale costs of alternative solutions that cost twice as much, or even more. That's tough to swallow when so many healthcare businesses are already being squeezed by tougher regulations and lower reimbursements.

mayo 11,2015

Dart Container Volunteers To Cleanup Los Angeles River

For sixth year, Dart employees joined thousands for the Great Los Angeles River CleanUp

mayo 05,2015

Volunteers Participate in the Annual Dart Container Great Clean Up

Dart Container is pleased to announce that for the fifth consecutive year, the company’s employees have volunteered their time and efforts to help clean up the area surrounding their Conyers facility.

abril 30,2015

Dart Container Files Lawsuit Against the NYC Foam Ban

(New York, NY) – Dart Container Corporation joined with the Restaurant Action Alliance NYC, members of the recycling industry, and the City’s restaurant owners today in filing a lawsuit seeking to overturn the City’s ban on foam foodservice items. Mayor Bill de Blasio, the New York City Department of Sanitation, and DSNY Commissioner Kathryn Garcia are named as respondents in the petition, which was filed against the Commissioner’s erroneous determination that foam cannot be recycled. The determination flagrantly violated Local Law 142 as well as sound environmental and economic policy and plain common sense.

abril 30,2015

City businesses take fight against polystyrene foam container ban to court

A coalition including the Restaurant Action Alliance and Dart Container Corp. contends the ban Mayor de Blasio wants to start July 1 is illegal because the law requires the city to recycle such products, but Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia ruled arbitrarily that soft foam containers cannot be recycled.

abril 30,2015

Styrofoam proponents call NYC ban a ‘sham’

Styrofoam proponents filed a lawsuit claiming that Mayor de Blasio’s ban of their product is a “sham” — and that he only went through with it to keep his campaign promises and not because it can’t be recycled.

abril 22,2015

Dart container continues its commitment to keeping michigan’s highways clean

For the fifth consecutive year, Dart is participating in Michigan’s Adopt-A-Highway program Mason, Michigan – Dart Container has announced that through their participation in Michigan’s Adopt-A-Highway program, enough litter to fill 64 trash bags has been cleaned from Michigan’s Highway 127. Dart volunteers, including employees, friends, and family donated their time to this very important cause.

abril 01,2015

The Foam Fight

The future of polystyrene recycling looks great! Check out the latest article on the current state of polystyrene recycling from Scrap Magazine.

enero 08,2015

New York City Chooses Landfilling Over Recycling

Despite acknowledging foam and #6 rigid plastics can be successfully collected curbside, the City turned down an offer to recycle tons of foam #6.

diciembre 12,2014

2014 Keep Georgia Beautiful Award Winners Celebrated

Atlanta, GA – More than 200 Georgians attended the 36th Annual Keep Georgia Beautiful Awards Luncheon on Friday, December 12 at the Marriott Century Center. The annual program honors individuals and organizations working to improve Georgia’s environment.

noviembre 05,2014

Dart Container Remains Committed To Keep Our Rivers Clean

SACRAMENTO, CA – For the seventh consecutive year, with the help of Dart Container’s Lodi manufacturing facility employees, friends and family, volunteers collected 21,000 pounds of litter from the American River Parkway during the Annual Great American River Clean Up.

octubre 15,2014

UC Davis Continues Tradition of Green Move-In Recycling Drive

DAVIS, CA – The University of California, Davis announced today the collection of (hundreds) of pounds of foam containers through a partnership with campus Student Housing and Dart Container, which took place during the school’s annual green move-in recycling drive.

agosto 05,2014

Plastic Recycling, Inc. (PRI) announced today the launch of a new EPS recycling facility in Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis, IN — Plastic Recycling, Inc. (PRI) announced today the launch of a new recycling facility in Indianapolis, IN dedicated specifically to the recycling of post-consumer foam cups, foam take-out containers and other used polystyrene materials collected through curbside pick-up programs across the country.

mayo 06,2014

Dart Container Continues Commitment to Environment, Participates in 25th Annual Great LA River Cleanup

Dozens of Dart Container employees participated over the weekend in the 25th Annual Great LA River Cleanup event, hosted by the Friends of the LA River (FoLAR), donating volunteers as well as foam recycling education for the sixth year.

febrero 10,2014

New Website Launched to Increase Recycling of Foam Food Containers and Packaging

Mason, MI — To support the recovery of post-consumer foam packaging, Dart Container Corporation is proud to announce the launch of HomeforFoam.com, an educational website dedicated to informing businesses, city governments, and schools about how polystyrene (PS) foam #6 can be recycled. It also provides a list of markets for the material, a list of the environmental and economic benefits to recycling foam #6, as well as a list of locations that accept foam #6 recycling facility.

septiembre 19,2013

Dart Container Returns to Great American River Clean Up with Sixth Year of Foam Cup and Foam Packaging Recycling

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For the sixth consecutive year, Dart Container is bringing foam recycling (often mistakenly referred to as “Styrofoam”, a registered trademark of Dow Chemical), education, and volunteer efforts to the Great American River Clean Up. Last year, over 2,000 volunteers removed more than 17,600lbs pounds of trash and debris in just three hours.

septiembre 16,2013

Dart Container Corporation Keeping Michigan's Highways Clean

Mason, MI — As part of Dart Container’s commitment to keeping our communities free of litter, it is participating in Michigan’s Adopt-A-Highway program. For two weeks, Dart volunteers, including employees, friends and family, will volunteer their time to the two-mile stretch of Highway 127 between Cedar Street Exchange and Railroad Bridge. The volunteers will be responsible for cleaning up any litter that they find on the side of the road.

mayo 22,2013

Dart Container Returns to the 24th Annual Great LA River Cleanup with Fifth Year of Litter Pick Up and Foam Recycling Education

Los Angeles, CA — For the fifth consecutive year, Dart Container is bringing foam recycling education and volunteer efforts to the 24th Annual Great LA River Cleanup hosted by the Friends of the LA River (FOLAR). On Saturday, May 18, 2013, employees from Dart’s Corona manufacturing facility joined thousands of other volunteers as they picked up trash and debris from the LA River.

marzo 17,2013

Dart Wins EPS Recycling Award

Dart Container Corporation has received the Excellence in EPS Recycling Award for its “extraordinary commitment to the advancement of expanded polystyrene (EPS) recycling.”

junio 05,2012

Foam #6 Recycling Now Available in Howard County, MD

ELLICOTT CITY, MD (June 5, 2012) – The Howard County, Maryland Department of Public Works announced a partnership with Dart Container Corporation, a leading manufacturer and recycler of polystyrene foam #6 foodservice products, to collect these products at the county’s Alpha Ridge Landfill Residents’ Convenience Center.

mayo 16,2012

Litter Studies Find that Foam Food Service Makes Up 1.5 Percent of Litter

Gaithersburg, MD (May , 2012) –Environmental Resources Planning compiled information from nineteen litter surveys conducted in the U.S. and Canada from 1994 to 2009, including a 2008 national survey of 240 sites. The firm reviewed surveys that used statistically valid quantification and charcterization methodolgies. The report finds that polystyrene foam food service products "consistently constitute a small portion of litter (1.5 percent). Evaluating just the surveys conducted since 2000 yields an even lower median value of 1.1 percent."

mayo 07,2012

Boy Scouts of America's Opening of New Delaware Camp to Go Green

Dover, DE – Through a partnership between Dart Container Corp. and the Delaware Solid Waste Authority, the Del-Mar-Va Council, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is reducing its environmental impact by recycling thousands of polystyrene foam cups - also known as foam #6 - that will be used at a peninsula-wide Scout Jamboree this weekend at the new Akridge Scout Reservation. Commonly referred to as “Styrofoam”, a registered trademark of the Dow Chemical Company, foam #6 is recyclable and is used in a wide range of products, from foam cups and foodservice containers, to the large molded blocks used to package electronics.

abril 28,2012

Dart Employees Participate in the 23rd annual LA River Clean-Up

On Saturday, April 28, employees from Dart’s Corona facility joined hundreds of other volunteers at the 23rd annual Friends of LA River Clean-Up. Organized by Ed Rhodes, Sandra Ormonde, and Yvette Find for the fourth consecutive year, our employees were happy to join other volunteers in restoring the Los Angeles River. In addition to picking-up litter, the plant also had a booth to educate volunteers on the recyclability of foam products in Los Angeles.

marzo 28,2012

Michigan-based container manufacturer becomes certified recycler

Lansing, MI — Dart Container Corporation gained the third-star certificate in MRC’s recognition program for their significant in-house waste reduction and recycling efforts. “By simply establishing in-house waste reduction and recycling policies and procedures, Dart set the stage for companywide commitment to resource conservation and recycling,” Kerrin O’Brien, MRC executive director said.

marzo 15,2012

The NC Half Marathon at Charlotte Motor Speedway Runs “Green”

Cabarrus County, NC — In partnership with the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Continental Events and Sports Management group, the inaugural NC Half Marathon is reducing its environmental impact by recycling thousands of foam cups. This sport event is focused on setting a new standard for U.S. athletic events by incorporating green practices into each race.

enero 04,2012

Dart Receives 2nd Consecutive Recognition as CalRecycle WRAP Recipient

CORONA/LODI, CA — For the 2nd straight year, CalRecycle has recognized Dart Container Corporation as a winner of its prestigious Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP). Dart was awarded based on its waste reduction efforts at its manufacturing facilities in Lodi and Corona.

diciembre 28,2010

Dart Container Featured in Green Magazine

Green Magazine Television produced by WDCC, is a television series about global sustainability. The series showcases some of the latest technologies and innovative concepts being utilized by companies. Dart Container Corporation's Mason, MI recycling center was featured in a segments aired in December 2010 on The Discovery Channel, CNBC, and The Learning Channel.

noviembre 15,2010

Arlington Heights School District Recycling Foam Lunch Trays

Arlington Heights, IL – A stack of lunch trays reaching nine feet high recently proved an important point for children at Arlington Heights School District 25 – collecting the foam ( ) trays for recycling can help save landfill space and be transformed into useful products. In partnership with Dart Container Corp, the school district is diverting their school lunch trays from the landfill by delivering them to Dart in N. Aurora so they can be processed for recycling. Recycled foam can be reprocessed into premium picture frames, interior molding, and many other products.

noviembre 03,2010

Waseca Public Schools Recycling Foam Lunch Trays

WASECA, MN – Waseca Public Schools has added another R to the more traditional "reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic," teaming up with Michigan-based Dart Container Corporation to pioneer a new way to recycle foam as part of the school district's dining services.

septiembre 30,2010

Dart Inducted into Keep Chicago Beautiful Hall of Fame

CHICAGO, IL – Dart Container Corporation was recently inducted into Keep Chicago Beautiful's Recycling Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes Dart's efforts in raising awareness about foam recycling, as well as our ongoing programs to seed recycling activity through Recycla-Pak, CARE (Cups Are Recyclable) and free foam drop-off at our U.S. plants. Dart is proud to be on the KCB Board of Directors.

septiembre 27,2010

Dart Container Joins FedEx and National Fish & Wildlife Foundation to Recycle Foam Ice Chests

septiembre 24,2010

Public Drop-Off for Foam Recycling Offered at Great American River Clean-Up

SACRAMENTO, CA – Discarded foam cups, clamshells and other litter picked up by volunteers and dropped off by the public during the Great American River Clean-Up could soon become ingredients for picture frames or decorative moulding, thanks to sponsor Dart Container Corporation.

junio 16,2010

First Mexico Foam Recycling Plant Inaugurated

Atlacomulco, Edo. Mexico - As part of its strategy to support the community, Dart de México launched its first collection center for recycling of foam (expanded polystyrene) in Mexico, which will have capacity to process 400 tons of this material annually. This free service will help reduce the storage of this material in Mexico landfills.

mayo 12,2010

The 4th Annual Avenue of the Vines Goes Green By Recycling Foam Cups

LODI, CA – Lodi’s Dart Container, a company employing more than 100 people in the area, will be providing and recycling foam cups from the 4th annual Kaiser Permanente Avenue of the Vines Half Marathon & 5K. Sunday’s race, through country roads with scenery of grape vines and mustard seed just east of Lodi, is taking its place among already established marquee athletic events across the U.S. in setting a new standard in reducing its environmental impact. Dart is contributing more than 8,000 cups and collecting the cups to be recycled at its plant in Lodi, where they accept used foam products for recycling at no cost to the public. Once collected, the material is used to make new products including picture frames or decorative moulding.

mayo 08,2010

Dart Container Brings Foam Recycling Education to Great LA River Cleanup for 2nd Year

LOS ANGELES, CA – For the 2nd year, Dart Container Corporation had a table at the 21st annual Great LA River Clean up, where employees both educated volunteers about the recyclability of foam and picked up litter along the Steelhead Park site. Dart brought foam recycling education to the annual Friends of the Los Angeles River event on May 8 to remind consumers that foam products, like many other plastics, are recyclable, and to encourage the responsible public disposal of litter as a way of preserving an important Los Angeles watershed and habitat.

abril 20,2010

Dart Container Corp.’s New U.S. Line of Stock Printed Foam Cups Extend Company’s Efforts to Showcase “Green” Benefits of Foam

MASON, MI – Foam is greener than some people may think, and the Dart Container Corporation is extending its efforts to educate consumers about the environmental benefits of foam on its new U.S. line of printed stock cups. Ten different messages printed with solvent-free UV inks on the brightly-colored hot and cold beverage cups serve up facts about the recyclability of foam and how foam compares environmentally to similar paper-based products. The messages, which invite consumers to learn more at www.dart.biz , reinforce Dart’s efforts nationwide to promote recycling of foam, and to dispel misperceptions about foam’s environmental attributes.

abril 20,2010

Foam Recycling Earth Week Open House

MASON, MI Dart Container Corporation, with more than 1,000 local employees, is holding an open house at its post-consumer foam collection facility in Mason to celebrate Earth Week and educate the community about the recyclability of foam (often improperly called “Styrofoam,” a registered trademark of the Dow Chemical Company).

febrero 25,2010

North Carolina Welcomes Free Public Foam Recycling Drop-Off Facility

RANDLEMAN, NC Foam recycling has arrived in Randolph County. Dart Container of North Carolina today unveiled its latest post-consumer foam collection site in Randleman.

febrero 11,2010

Free Public Foam Recycling Drop-Off Facility Arrives in Texas

WAXAHACHIE, TX – Foam recycling has arrived in Ellis County. Dart Container of Texas today unveiled in Waxahachie its latest post-consumer foam collection site. The free drop-off will pioneer a new way for Texas residents, businesses and organizations to recycle foam with the number 6 on it.

diciembre 10,2009

Dart Container Corporation Brings Free Public Foam Recycling Drop-Off Facility to Clarke County, MS

QUITMAN, MS – Foam recycling has arrived in Clarke County. Dart Container Company of Mississippi today unveiled in Quitman its latest post-consumer foam collection site – the first in the state. As one of a growing number of regions to be equipped with foam recycling infrastructure, the free drop-off will pioneer a new way for Mississippi residents, businesses and organizations to recycle foam with the number 6 on it.

noviembre 12,2009

Illinois Introduces Foam Recycling Public Drop-Off Facility in Aurora

AURORA, IL – Foam recycling has arrived in Kane County. Dart Container Corporation of Illinois today unveiled in Aurora its latest post–consumer foam recycling drop–off site – the first in the state. As one of a growing number of regions to be equipped with foam recycling infrastructure, the free drop–off will pioneer a new way for Illinois residents, businesses and organizations to use and reuse foam with the number 6 on it.

noviembre 05,2009

Washington Debuts Public Foam Recycling Drop-Off Facility in Thurston County

TUMWATER, WA – Foam recycling has arrived in Thurston County. In celebration of its 25th anniversary of manufacturing in Washington, Dart Container Corporation, in conjunction with Thurston County Solid Waste, today unveiled in Tumwater its latest post-consumer foam recycling drop-off site. As one of a growing number of regions to be equipped with foam recycling infrastructure, the free drop-off will pioneer a new way for Washington residents, businesses and organizations to use and reuse foam with the number 6 on it.

noviembre 02,2009

Aflac Headquarters Debuts Foam Recycling, Sets Bar for Other Businesses and Institutions

COLUMBUS, GA – Aflac’s international headquarters has teamed up with Michigan-based Dart Container Corp. to pioneer a new way for Georgia businesses and other large corporations to recycle foam as part of food-service operations. As part of Dart’s CARE (Cups Are REcyclable) Program, Aflac is leasing a foam densifier – a machine designed to compact a mound of foam food containers and trays the size of a small car into the size of a five-gallon bucket. The CARE Program helps large operators using foam food service products separate foam from other products, consolidate collected material, and have it recycled. Recycled foam food service products can be reprocessed into building insulation, plastic lumber, and many other products.

octubre 08,2009

Kentucky Debuts Public Foam Recycling Drop-Off Facility in Hart County

HORSE CAVE, KY – Dart Container Corporation today unveiled its latest post-consumer foam recycling drop-off site in Horse Cave, Ky. As one of a growing number of regions to be equipped with foam recycling infrastructure, the free drop-off will pioneer a new way for Kentucky residents, businesses and organizations, such as local Mammoth Cave National Park, to use and reuse foam with the number 6 on it. This is one of the state’s first public site to accept foam food service containers, including foam cups, plates, take-out containers, egg cartons, as well as shaped or molded foam often used to package electronics. This effort, Dart’s 8th drop-off location in the country, will divert foam from area landfills and allow it to be recycled into new products such as base boards and moldings.

septiembre 29,2009

Maryville Academy Debuts Foam Recycling in Illinois, Sets Bar for Other Schools, Businesses and Institutions in State

DES PLAINES, IL – Maryville Academy, a childcare organization serving children and families in need, has teamed up with Dart Container Corporation in a commitment to Sustain an eco-friendly 24-hour dining service and divert foam from landfills. The effort launched today will divert nearly 700,000 pieces of foam from area landfills each year.

septiembre 25,2009

Lansing's Annual Capitol City River Run Goes Green

LANSING, MI – Mason’s Dart Container is the sole provider of the annual Capitol City River Run’s foam cups, which will be collected on-site for recycling. Sunday’s race is taking its place among already established marquee marathon and half-marathon events across the U.S. in setting a new standard in reducing its environmental impact.

septiembre 19,2009

Employee's of Dart's Lodi, California facility participate in the Great American River Clean-Up

CARMICHAEL, CA – This year, in conjunction with the American River Parkway Foundation and Keep California Beautiful, Dart invited the public to drop-off their clean, bagged foam food service containers for free at the Great American River Clean-Up. Applicable items included foam cups, plates, clamshells, and shape molded foam packaging, often used to package electronics. The Dart drop-off took place on Saturday, Sept. 19 on the north side of the river at William Pond Recreation Area.

agosto 27,2009

Michigan State University Incoming Students Go ‘Spartan’ Green On Move-In Day

Dart Container Corporation provides on-site collection of polystyrene packaging foam for recycling as students move into the dorms. LANSING, MI – Like many campuses across the U.S., Michigan State University’s (MSU) Office of Campus Sustainability is helping the school set a new standard in reducing its environmental footprint by partnering with a local company to recycle leave-behind foam on move-in day.

junio 16,2009

Dart Offers Foam Cup Recycling to California Small Business Operators

CALIFORNIA – Recycla-Pak”, a foam cup recycling program for small businesses, is now available in California from Dart Container Corporation through its network of wholesalers. Recycla-Pak provides a special bin for collecting used foam cups that, once full, can be sealed and shipped back for recycling of the cups, freight prepaid.

mayo 28,2009

Dart Makes School Lunch Tray Recycling Possible in California.

STOCKTON, CA – A Stockton elementary school’s year-long effort to recycle cafeteria polystyrene lunch trays to save money and teach students and the community an important lesson about sustainability earned tributes from school officials and California lawmakers.

octubre 24,2008

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

CORONA, CA – 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.

octubre 03,2008

Dart Container Unveils New Polystyrene Foam Recycling Drop-off Site

LODI, CA (October 3, 2008) – Dart Container Corporation opened its newest post-consumer polystyrene foam (commonly known as Styrofoam®, a registered trademark of The Dow Chemical Company), drop-off site at its Lodi, CA plant. This is the San Joaquin Valley’s first such facility and it accepts foam food service containers, including foam cups, foam plates, foam clamshells, and shape or molded foam packaging, often used to package electronics.