Grant money is available to increase recycling of packaging made from foam polystyrene from the Foam Recycling Coalition.
The FRC, part of the Foodservice Packaging Institute, says it seeks applicants looking to start or strengthen a post-consumer foam polystyrene recycling program. Organizations involved in managing residential curbside recycling programs or material recovery facilities are eligible to apply for funding. Available to both public and private organizations, each grant will range from about $15,000 to $50,000.
The grant program, launched last year, has given away almost $100,000, according to Lynn Dyer, president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute. ‘‘With greater end-market demand for foam polystyrene equipment and handling, our funding program helps recycling facilities include foam polystyrene in their accepted recycling materials,” Dyer says.
Last year’s grantees, Denver’s Alpine Waste & Recycling and Colchester County, Nova Scotia, received grants to purchase equipment that provides foam polystyrene recycling services to their communities.
FRC says it will soon announce a third grantee.
This initiative targets post-consumer foam polystyrene products, such as foodservice packaging (i.e., cups, plates, bowls, clamshells, cafeteria trays); and other types of packaging like egg cartons, meat trays, and protective packaging (used when shipping electronics and other fragile items).
Grant amounts will be determined on a case-by-case basis dependent upon equipment needs. No cash match is required, but additional costs may be incurred by the grantee for related items such as site preparation, provision of conveying system, electrical infrastructure, freight and other installation costs.
Grantees are required to communicate the addition of foam polystyrene to their recycling program, both directly to households and in their regular communication materials. Grantees also must commit to collecting, processing and marketing foam polystyrene for a minimum of three years, which includes reporting on the volumes to FRC.
The application deadline is April 10. The first 2016 grant recipient will be announced in late spring.
