Styrofoam
Why use Ridwell?
Most curbside recycling services don’t offer Styrofoam recycling, or only take very limited types. This means that you get stuck saving up your Styrofoam and then trying to find somewhere to recycle it.
Ridwell makes recycling your Styrofoam (also known as expanded polystyrene or EPS) easy. Instead of spending hours of your weekend driving around looking for a recycling center, just add it to your Ridwell pickup. We’ll come get it right from your door, and take it to our partners - who recycle it into things like picture frames and roofing insulation!
How it works
1
Collect your Styrofoam
Use the orange bag provided by Ridwell to collect your Styrofoam between pickups. Please make sure your Styrofoam is clean!
2
Tie or tape your Styrofoam bag shut
Securely close your Styrofoam bag so that pieces will not fall out during transit.
3
Get ready for pickup
Unlimited members: Go ahead and leave your orange bag of Styrofoam by your bin for pickup!
Plastic Plus and Classic members: Add Styrofoam to your pickup from your member dashboard for a small add-on fee, then leave your orange bag by your bin for pickup.
What items can we take?
Please make sure your items are clean, dry, and free of food, dirt, tape, paper, and foil.
Blocks
Shipping coolers
Clean takeout containers
Clean Styrofoam cups
Clean meat trays and food trays
Any color
Thick flex foam
Shiny and flexible; any color
Thin packing foam
Styrofoam packing peanuts
Cornstarch and compostable packing peanuts
What isn’t in this category?
Dirty containers
Foil-covered
Insulation foam board
Molded foam
Microbeads
Egg crate foam
Styrofoam.
Styrofoam* is inexpensive and keeps certain things safe or cool in transport, so it often shows up unannounced in packages. Unfortunately, it usually can’t go in curbside recycling, and can take centuries to decompose in a landfill.
With Ridwell, you can get your Styrofoam picked up right from your door! You save time (and get to finally clear out the Styrofoam stash in your closet!), and your Styrofoam gets a second life.
*When we say Styrofoam, we are referring to items in the polystyrene foam family, not just Styrofoam-brand products. Styrofoam™ Brand Foam is a registered trademark of DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (“DuPont”). For more information, click here.
Partnering with Green Citizen
Founded on Earth Day, April 22, 2005, GreenCitizen is a socially and environmentally responsible company with a goal to create a cleaner environment by addressing the growing electronic waste and Styrofoam crisis; through providing pick-up and drop-off recycling services to ensure end-of-life products are recycled securely and responsibly in the United States. EPS (Styrofoam) collected is densified and sold to downstream markets that will use the product to make surfboards, picture frames and crown molding.
FAQ
How large are the bags?
Our Styrofoam bags are 45 gallons - more than 4x larger than our Ridwell bin, so they'll fit most pieces!
What if I need more than one Styrofoam bag?
Just let us know by emailing help@ridwell.com! We’re happy to drop off additional bags as-needed. You are also welcome to use a trash bag or any other plastic bag up to 45-gallon size that you have at home.
Plastic Plus and Classic members: Please note that the add-on fee is applied per bag regardless of bag size.
What if my Styrofoam is too large for the bag?
If your Styrofoam is too large for the bag, please break it down into smaller pieces that will fit inside, and make sure to tie or tape the bag shut to keep everything secure!
Does my Styrofoam bag need to be closed?
Yes, please make sure that your Styrofoam bag is securely closed so that pieces will not fall out during transit. You are welcome to tie the bag shut, or use tape or another method that ensures the contents will not spill out.
Does the Styrofoam need to be clean?
Please make sure your Styrofoam is dry and clean, and remove any tape or stickers.
How do I get a Styrofoam bag?
We'll deliver an orange Styrofoam bag with your bin. From then on, whenever you get a Styrofoam pickup, we'll replace your full bag with an empty one! If you’re missing a Styrofoam bag, please reach out to us at help@ridwell.com and we’ll make sure you get a new one!
Do you reuse the bags?
Absolutely! We will keep them in circulation as long as possible.
What happens to the Styrofoam once Ridwell collects it?
Our trained team members screen for non-qualifying material like wet Styrofoam or stickers that need removing. Screened material is transported to our local partners for recycling!
Join the movement to build a future without waste.
