Styrofoam and packing peanuts

UW Recycling does not accept Styrofoam from off campus.

If you are looking for local resources to dispose of Styrofoam, please consult King County Solid Waste Division's What do I do with...? tool and Seattle Public Utilities' Special Item Collections.

What is acceptable

The following materials are accepted by UW Recycling in the optional self-serve recycling program. Please remove all tape and labels, then bag separately by type (listed below). Custodians are not responsible for transporting these materials for recycling:

• Packing peanuts (compostable okay) 
• Rigid Styrofoam and polystyrene blocks/boxes
• Styrofoam and polystyrene trays 
• LDPE/polyethylene #4 foam (flexible foam) blocks/boxes 
• LDPE/polyethylene #4 foam (flexible foam) sheets 

What is not acceptable

• Soft foam (egg crate/upholstery foam)
• Polyurethane foam (sponges/mattress toppers) 
• Foam cups or food containers
• Instapak/sealed air or insulation foam 
• Biomedical waste

Instructions:

1. All materials must be clean, empty and bagged separately (otherwise they will be discarded as garbage). This means no tape, labels, ice packs, paper, etc.
2. Collect separately in your own clear bags.
3. Tie off full bags securely and label them with your department’s name and box number.
4. Place bags next to recycling containers at building’s loading dock or service area.
5. Do not block doors or walkways.
6. After bags have been placed at the dock, email recycle@uw.edu. Materials will be collected during the next regularly scheduled stop at your building.

Large volumes

UW Recycling provides large clear bags to collect packing peanuts, Styrofoam/polystyrene blocks and boxes for most campus locations. Contact UW Recycling if you would like to establish a packing peanut or Styrofoam collection container, or an internal bag distribution location. You can also order styrofoam collection bags online.