Styrofoam/Polystyrene recycling in San Diego County?

19 years ago

Hi all,

I'm going nuts since moving down here from the Bay Area. I can't find anyplace to recycle hard styrofoam packing. Does anyone have any hints?

In addition, last Christmas, we had a lot of stuff catered (due to illness in the family, we let Stonewall Kitchen, etc. do a lot of our stuff to handle the oodles of houseguests) and I am now left with 11 beautifully crafted styrofoam boxes that things arrived in (with dry ice etc.). The lids and boxes are a thing of beauty..... I can't find a use for them and haven't found a way to recycle styrofoam down here, so I'm trying to find someone who might need some lovely boxes -- their fit and construction is gorgeous and I'm sure it'd keep anything cool/preserved etc.

Does anyone have any ideas about who might be able to reuse these???? They have been sitting in my garage for 3 mos while I try to figure out what responsible thing to do with them.

I'm so upset about not being able to recycle them down here, I'm considering mailing the dang things up to my former neighbor in the Bay Area so she can take them to the recycling center (since there are 4 up there......) AGGHH Help!

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Comments (5)

squeeze
19 years ago
there's not much real use of 'recycled' styrofoam .... best way to deal with it is discourage it's use

Bill

Here is a link that might be useful: from SF area
nandina
19 years ago
I am always on the lookout for free boxes such as you describe. They make wonderful plant containers which I keep on my deck. Tomatoes grown in high heat conditions thrive in the larger ones. I now grow all my tomato plants in styrofoam containers. I paint mine with black acrylic paint and then spray them with the various colored 'concrete-type' sprays available at box stores. When finished they look very expensive and hold up well to the elements. I found a very large styrofoam box last fall in which I have been growing a bumper crop of peas this winter. Shortly I will replant it with everbearing strawberries. I would encourage those living in hot areas to try styrofoam container garden as the plants thrive. Of course, you have to punch some drainage holes in them.
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diggerdee zone 6 CT
19 years ago
Can't help with the recycling, but you may want to consider offering your styrofoam boxes on Freecycle.com. Someone may snap them up. I just got one from a local person who got a baked ham in one. It's a nice size, cooler-type box, and I plan on using it to overwinter dahlias next fall. Actually, I was looking for some *last* fall, but couldn't find any, so I jumped on this one when it was offered on Freecycle.

The woman told me her husband couldn't imagine who would want it, and why would she bother offering it, but you never know what others are looking for, or how creative they can get with something you may think is worthless. One person's trash... etc.

Kudos to you for not just throwing them in the trash!
:)
Dee
tamnesia
19 years ago
I am not seeing the message I posted yesterday. Would these be good for shipping live fish in? That way, they would continue to be used over and over again.
Nancy
mezzalla
17 years ago
There are private businesses that recycle block styrofoam in San Diego County!

Waste Management has North County facilities in Del Mar, Carlsbad and Oceanside:
http://northcounty.wm.com/buyback.asp

Waste Management facility in El Cajon:
http://www.wastemanagementsd.com/buyback.asp

Also Cactus Recycling in Chula Vista:
http://www.cactusrecycling.com/
tel. 619-661-1283