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 Styrofoam is clean and free of food, dirt, tape, paper, and foil.
Rigid blocks
Must be white color and free of any printing
Shipping coolers
Must be white color and free of any printing
Clean Styrofoam cups
Must be white color and free of any printing
Clean takeout containers
Must be white color and free of any printing
Styrofoam packing peanuts
Please put in a separate bag within your orange bag
Cornstarch and compostable packing peanuts
Please put in a separate bag within your orange bag
What isn’t in this category?
Dirty containers
Meat trays
Insulation foam board
Foil-covered
Molded foam
Microbeads
Thick flex foam
Thin flex foam
#5 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 Styrofoam-brand products. Styrofoam™ Brand Foam is a registered trademark of DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (“DuPont”). For more information, click here.
Partnering with Coon Rapids Recycling Center
Coon Rapids Recycling is a drop off center located in Anoka County with its main focus on hard to manage materials. As a zero waste facility, Coon Rapids Recycling collects and processes these materials while working with unique end markets to ensure everything accepted is recycled. With a diversified system, Coon Rapids Recycling provides unique, convenient recycling methods and the industry’s best customer service. Staff are trained to educate along the way. This has shown that those using the facility have a deeper knowledge that they can carry forward. Styrofoam sent to Coon Rapids Recycling is processed and is ultimately turned into picture frames which are purchased and sold within its own community.
Partnering with Trex Company, Inc.
Flex film is recycled through Trex Company. Trex is one of the largest recyclers of plastic film in North America, using more than 400 million pounds of recycled plastics - including more than 1.5 billion plastic bags - each year to make its high-performance, wood-alternative decking. A standard 16-foot Trex deck board contains recycled materials from approximately 2,250 plastic bags, and is 95% recycled content.
“Ridwell members give us some of the highest quality plastic we receive from any partner. We are thrilled to be working with such a conscientious and passionate community.“ - Trex, Consumer Education
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 Styrofoam pieces!
What if I need more than one Styrofoam bag?
You are always welcome to bag up extra Styrofoam in large garbage bags - just be sure to let us know how many bags you will have via your member dashboard!
If you would prefer to request an extra orange Ridwell bag to use, you can sign into your Ridwell account and visit our bag request page.
Classic and Plastic Plus members: Please note that the add-on charge 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!
Other ways to recycle your Styrofoam
While we want to offer our members an easy way to get rid of their Styrofoam, we also want you to be aware of other community resources that are available.
- Coon Rapids Recycling Center offers a free Styrofoam recycling drop-off service for Coon Rapids and Anoka County residents.
Join the movement to build a future without waste.
