Styrofoam Recycling Program Launched

An innovative new program to recycle polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam, is being launched in La Crosse County.

Hilltopper Refuse & Recycling Service Inc., La Crosse County’s Solid Waste Department and 7 Rivers Recycling LLC are collaborating on the initiative. Polystyrene foam used for packaging, cups, plates, carry-out boxes, and more, will be recycled into crown molding through the program.

“This is an exciting new program that will help save space in the county landfill and is the result of a partnership between organizations working to improve our community,” said Brandon Knudtson, General Manager with Hilltopper.

When landfilled, Styrofoam takes up valuable space that could be prioritized for other material.  Using recycled material to make consumer products also helps preserve natural resources that would otherwise be processed. Once collected for recycling, the foam will be melted at high temperatures and processed before being sold as crown molding with multiple uses, including for window trim and picture framing.

Hilltopper received a $50,000 grant for the new program from the Food Packaging Institute’s Foam Recycling Coalition. La Crosse County is providing $24,000 in funding to assist with equipment and infrastructure requirements.

“We are always looking for new partnerships that increase the sustainability of our operations and of the community at large and this program certainly ticks all the right boxes,” said Jadd Stilwell, La Crosse County Solid Waste Director.

About 38% of all materials brought to La Crosse County Solid Waste for disposal in 2022 were recycled or diverted from the landfill, which was an increase of 3% from the previous year. The foam recycling program will add to other partnerships that divert items including residential waste, mattresses, shingles, tires, yard waste and wood debris from landfilling.

Final details on the new Styrofoam recycling program, such as specific accepted/unacceptable material and how individuals can get materials to recycling locations, are expected to be communicated to the public soon.