White Styrofoam Transformed Into Green Future

Today, it's a Styrofoam cup. Tomorrow, it might be a picture frame.

Well, maybe not as soon as tomorrow. But, according to Dave Sherman of Framingham-based ReFoam It LLC, that could be the eventual fate of the estimated 1,200 to 1,300 pounds of  Styrofoam collected at the most recent Styrofoam recycling day at

Sherman said these recycling days are held roughly every four months. Hosted by the Grafton Recycling Committee, the event is a joint venture between ReFoam It and KWD Warehouse, which is based in North Smithfield, R.I.

Items collected between 9 a.m. and noon Jan. 15 included Styrofoam coolers, packing, meat trays, takeout containers and coffee cups.

“When I rolled up here at 10 minutes of 9, they already had a pile,” said Sherman, who operates ReFoam It with his wife, Barbara. “Some stacked up waiting for me.”

According to his wife, this was Grafton's fifth Styrofoam recycling day. And Grafton's collection day is the company's best, she said.

“By far,” agreed her husband.

Outside the municipal center, Sherman pointed to a display explaining the recycling process. The Styrofoam will be densified into blocks by a machine, which will squeeze the air out of it, he said. It will then be cut into blocks, which weigh between 75 to 125 pounds, and shipped out. Most of it goes to China, according to Sherman, who said the company helps recycle between 45,000 and 50,000 pounds of Styrofoam per month.

After that, it can melted into a taffy-like substance and eventually turned into plastic picture frames, house molding, or toys. Almost anything that's plastic can be the end result, Sherman said, adding that it just can't go back into the food industry. 

To those naysayers who claim Styrofoam can't be recycled, Sherman says “bah, humbug.” It can be done, but it is just not a high profit business, he said.

It can be a money-saver, however, according to Grafton resident Dan Crossin.

Crossin, who brought packaging from items bought during the holidays, such as a microwave, pointed out that stuffing the Styrofoam into Pay as You Throw trash bags could have cost between $7 and $10.

“I think it's great that these folks are out here doing this,” Crossin said. “I think I just probably saved 10 bucks.”

It was also easy, he said, adding that he just “pulled right up” and the Styrofoam was collected from his car.

New Recycling Committee member Jennifer Cray, a self-proclaimed “big greenie,” said Crossin was just one of at least 100 cars that brought Styrofoam to recycle. By noontime, cars were still pulling up.

“They're mindful of how they get rid of their waste,” Cray said. “I think, more and more, people just want to know that things are being recycled or disposed of properly.”

The proof is in the numbers. According to Recycling Committee chair Stephanie Collins-Rankin, who contacted ReFoam It to begin these recycling days, the first event collected about 425 pounds of Styrofoam. Each event tends to increase the last's number by about 50 percent, she said.

The next Styrofoam Recycling Day is planned for May 7.  For more information, visit www.refoamit.com.