topic Re: Styrofoam Containers in Community Chat

Styrofoam Containers

QVCkitty1 — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 20:50:56 GMT

This year I ordered a couple of food items and I'm left with the styrofoam boxes they were shipped in. We can't recycle them, so do you have any tips on how to break them down for the trash ? They are tough suckers. TIA.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

fthunt — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 20:58:44 GMT

Just get one of those big big black plastic bags and throw it in there. Today was my trash collection and I had big hard plastic formed pieces to protected my Bose radio in shipment. Filled bag with other stuff and set it at the curb. Now it's all gone.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

Azcowgirl — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 21:00:27 GMT

Good question. The ones from Nutrisystems that the frozen food comes packed in with dry ice are like big thick coolers. It would take a saw to cut them up.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

fthunt — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 21:00:53 GMT

For the food styrofoam containers - the covers I put in regular kitchen trash bag and the white box part I lay it on top of the trash all by itself. Guy just grabs it and throws on the truck. (no breaking those down either)

Re: Styrofoam Containers

Kachina624 — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 21:02:52 GMT

If I put stuff on the curb in a plastic bag, it would still be there at the start of the next Ice Age. It must fit in the container with its lid closed.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

CelticCrafter — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 21:18:46 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
If I put stuff on the curb in a plastic bag, it would still be there at the start of the next Ice Age. It must fit in the container with its lid closed.

That's the way it's supposed to be here but we have an idiot neighbor that thinks as long as it's not falling out onto the ground you can pile it as high as humanly possible.

Sometimes they will take it, sometimes not.

This is a family of five that in 20 years has never once put out the paper and cardboard recycling bin.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

fthunt — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 21:20:31 GMT

WE all have hard sided with lids containers. Plastic bags in container......big styrofoam insulated food container....placed on top of plastic bags under lid. Nothing..but nothing....left on ground.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

x Hedge — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 21:28:59 GMT

@Azcowgirl wrote:
Good question. The ones from Nutrisystems that the frozen food comes packed in with dry ice are like big thick coolers. It would take a saw to cut them up.

@Azcowgirl , the large, 2piece fitted nutrisystem coolers are useful to those who are providing outdoor winter shelters to feral cats. Not sure if that's the same as the container you mention.

The Nutrisystem container given to me was large enough to shelter an adult cat, or adult having her litter in winter. Walls were abt 3" thick.

Guessing it was abt 15x15x24".

If that's the size you're referring to, perhaps your local Humane Society or Wildlife Arc could direct you to a person/group who'd be glad to take those off your hands.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

ID2 — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 21:29:04 GMT

Why not do your part and instead of disposing of them, why not use them as coolers when you need a cooler? I have several that I keep and use any chance I get. I keep one in the trunk of my car and use it when bringing home frozen food from the grocery store during the hot summer days. It's a great idea! I'm not about to contribute to the throw away society of today.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

Warrior2022 — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 21:36:09 GMT

I give mine to my lawn guy and what he doesn't need, he gives away to his coworkers. They love them for using as coolers when they are out working.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

SilleeMee — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 21:48:43 GMT

Any items which don't fit inside my can has to be put inside a closed container (trash bag), bundled with ties then placed next to my can. I get charged extra for each item placed out next to my can...$5 per bag or bundle. If it's not in a bag or tied in a bundle then they won't pick it up.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

hckynut — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 21:54:07 GMT

@QVCkitty1

We use the huge trash containers from our trash company. Don't know the exact size, but if something does not fit, I set it beside our container. If is is something that the wind my blow down our road, I put one or more of the loose bricks I have on hand to weigh it down.

hckynut

Re: Styrofoam Containers

ValuSkr — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 21:59:15 GMT

Thank you for asking. Styrofoam is so bad for the environment and human health. I guess you'll have to chop this one up and send it to the landfill. But I wouldn't order from them again.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

QVCkitty1 — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 22:03:06 GMT

Thank you for you suggestions.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

Havarti — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 22:09:57 GMT

Unfortunately, they are not going to "disappear" any faster if they are smaller pieces or one big piece so don't risk cutting yourself trying to cut them down into smaller pieces.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

fthunt — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 22:10:37 GMT

@QVCkitty1 I also have a big (XX gallons) from the trash company. Could fit 2 men in it. LOL

Everything fits but if I have too much trash - like hoeing out basement - I just hold some of it for the next week pickup.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

ValuSkr — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 01:28:10 GMT

@Havarti wrote:
Unfortunately, they are not going to "disappear" any faster if they are smaller pieces or one big piece so don't risk cutting yourself trying to cut them down into smaller pieces.

Yes, the styrofoam paclaging will be here for hundreds of years regardless. But I thought someone said it wouldn't fit in the garbage receptacle and the trash people take only stuff inside the receptacle.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

Zukie — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 02:10:35 GMT

Several years ago, we accumulated quite a number of the Styrofoam coolers. We live in a fairly rural area and need to take our trash and recycling items to a local trash/recycling facility. We've dropped off a number of boxes there for people who may want a good cooler (these are much better than the ones you can buy). At one of the local food pantries, they accepted a number of the boxes and actually sold them sold them to the people who shop there. We also ask friends if they need coolers. People, we know, keep them in the back of their vehicles during to the warmer weather.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

skatting44 — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 03:35:31 GMT

My electric was out a couple of days a few yrs ago in July from a freak storm that impacted our entire area. . I used them for holding ice to keep food cold till my electric was back on.

Re: Styrofoam Containers

insomniac2 — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 03:47:38 GMT

Valu Sku made this vital point: ". . .the styrofoam packaging will be here for hundreds of years regardless."

IT NEVER BREAKS UP; IT NEVER DISAPPEARS.