Colchester, Nova Scotia first outside U.S. to receive grant from Foam Recycling Coalition

Residents and commercial outlets in Colchester County, Nova Scotia can soon add polystyrene foam foodservice packaging, egg cartons, meat trays and protective packaging to their recycling bins, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Foam Recycling Coalition. Colchester County will use the grant money to upgrade their facility and purchase equipment that compacts polystyrene foam into bricks prior to transportation to end markets. The recovered foam will be processed in the Kemptown material recovery facility owned by the Municipality of the County of Colchester. Located in central Nova Scotia and near the Trans-Canada Highway, this facility also provides processing contracts with neighbouring municipalities and waste management authorities.

“Colchester demonstrated to us a strong desire and commitment to recycle foam, which is exactly what we’re looking for from our grant winners,” said Lynn Dyer, president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute, which houses the coalition. “In particular, their customer communications and outreach plans will highlight how easy it is to recycle and process foam.” An example of their current communications program is an active Twitter feed, @ColchesterWRM.

Colchester County is the first recipient outside the U.S. to win a grant from the coalition, who says the grant program is designed to increase the collection, processing, and marketing of post-consumer polystyrene foam in North America.

“Although it has long been recognized that polystyrene products are a valuable commodity, the expense of shipping a product to market that is mostly air has deterred the recycling of this material,” said Wayne Wamboldt, director of waste management for Colchester County. Now, with recent developments in densifying equipment, it is possible to get recycled polystyrene material to markets in a cost effective manner. With support from the Foam Recycling Coalition, Colchester County is in the process of purchasing equipment and upgrading the material recovery facility to begin recycling polystyrene foam products.”