Sen. Seminara promotes recycling innovation

Styrofoam recycling program comes to CT

The Lakeville Journal

WINSTED — Mayor Todd Arcelaschi cut the ribbon stretched in front of a huge pile of Styrofoam, as citizens of New Hartford, Barkhamsted and Winchester, members of the Board of Regional Refuse Disposal District No. 1, and elected state officials cheered the arrival of Connecticut’s first Styrofoam recycling program at the Municipal Transfer Station.

RRDD1 is partnering with FOAMCYCLE LLC. from Sussex County, N.J. Arcelaschi is also the Administrator of the municipal transfer station of RRDD1.

He has his finger on the pulse of innovation and seeks solutions for the massive waste management challenges in Connecticut. Arcelaschi wrote, “With the July 1, 2024, ban of single use Styrofoam containers at schools, universities and restaurants in Connecticut, this effort will help reduce even further the amount of Styrofoam that makes its way into landfills.”

The gleaming $85,000 machine crushes the Styrofoam refuse that is stored in giant white nylon bags. The material is crushed up, the air which makes up 98% of Styrofoam is extracted, the densifier melts the chopped-up bits, and a tube of pliable, recycled polystyrene is extruded out the side of the metal box and formed into “foam ingots.”

https://lakevillejournal.com/styrofoam-recycling-program-comes-to-ct