UC IRVINE STYROFOAM

RECYCLING PROGRAM B A I L E Y K I N S O L V I N G & M E A G A N B R O W N I N G

UCI FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY TEAM

ZERO WASTE AT UCI

Zero Waste: “Meet or exceed 95% diversion of municipal

solid waste.”

UCOP Goal of Zero Waste by 2020

UC Irvine:

• Highest diversion rate in UC system

83% (‘14-’15)

• Recognized as Sierra Magazine’s “#1 Cool

School” for two years in a row

Diversion from landfills: Recycling

Composting

Reusing/donating

WHY STYROFOAM?

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is an

ideal material because it is convenient +

cheap

o Packaging

o Single-use serve ware

However, due to its chemical makeup,

cannot be easily recycled or safely

incinerated

Development of EPS alternatives

underway (Myco Foam), but for now

Styrofoam remains material of choice

STYROFOAM USE AT UCI

Prior to 2016:

Campus currently has no policies

against single-use Styrofoam

products

UCIBuy catalog defaulted search

to cheapest product Styrofoam

No existing recycling program for

Styrofoam material

Now:

Currently working with various campus departments to eliminate use of Styrofoam consumer products

UCIBuy now sequences ‘eco-friendly’ (compostable) options first rather than Styrofoam

Large packaging Styrofoam is now recycled & repurposed into surfboard foam cores

STYROFOAM RECYCLING PILOT PROGRAM

1. Building users collect Styrofoam in

designated location within building

2. Custodial staff brings bagged

Styrofoam to loading dock

3. Student workers collect bagged

Styrofoam weekly and transport it to a

40-yard collection bin

4. UCI self hauls 40 yard bin to Marko

Foam around the corner bi-weekly

In an effort to uphold the UCI

“Coolest School” recognition:

Styrofoam recycling

UCI FM has partnered with local

company, Marko Foam, to

recycle/repurpose Styrofoam into

foam cores of surfboards

STYROFOAM DROP OFF LOCATIONS

• 10 drop off locations with highest influx of Styrofoam material • Research labs

• Medical campus

• In some instances, one bin for two locations

STYROFOAM COLLECTION

After 3 weeks of collection, we had

filled an entire 40-yard bin (right)

MARKO FOAM & WASTE TO WAVES

TROUBLESHOOTING

1. Cardboard heavy duty

plastic ULINE bins

2. Education component

a. Sort & strip

b. Signage

3. Scheduled drop-offs to

accommodate high volume

4. Capacity of student run

program

STYROFOAM RECYCLING SIGNAGE

Yes:

Clean, white #6 EPS foam

NO: X Packing tape

X Packing peanuts

X Labels

X Foam Inserts

X Foam Insulation

X Cups, plates

X Cool packs

X Cardboard

OUTCOME & BENEFITS

• Since start in Nov. 2015,

over 280 cubic yards of

Styrofoam collected,

equivalent to:

• 8 train cars

• 4,200 pounds

• On average, ~40 cubic

yards collected per month

from 10 locations

• Relatively closed loop

system

• Creative repurposing of an

otherwise undesirable

material

• Less voluminous material in

landfill

REPLICATE

ON YOUR

CAMPUS:

Several options:

1. Find a hauler who will accept

your material or investigate

local companies comparable

to Marko Foam

2. Invest in a Styrofoam

densifier

a. Sell back densified material to

packing supply stores

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!

Comments & questions?

Learn more:

:UCI Facilities Management

:UCI Recycles

Contact us: ucirecycles@uci.edu