The Franklin County Solid Waste Management District is collaborating with volunteers from the towns of Montague and Northfield to hold recycling collections for blocky Styrofoam packing material on April 8, 15, 22 and 29, from 9 a.m. to noon.

These free events are only open to residents of Northfield and Montague. Although advance registration is not required, space is limited, so Styrofoam will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

These recycling collections will only accept white blocky packing material and coolers made of Styrofoam or expanded polystyrene foam (EPS or PS No. 6), according to the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District. To meet these specifications, volunteers at the two collection sites will review the materials that each resident brings. Items must be clean and dry. Styrofoam, EPS and other foams are not accepted in household recycling.

Residents are also advised these events no longer accept No. 4 LDPE foam packaging sheets or foam insulation board (XPS). These collections will not accept food-related Styrofoam items such as cups, plates, bowls, trays, clamshells or egg cartons. According to the waste management district, there are no local recycling options for these foam materials, so they must be disposed of in the trash. Packing peanuts and wet or dirty materials are also not accepted. However, the UPS Store in Greenfield accepts clean, dry packing peanuts for reuse.

Northfield residents may bring materials to the Northfield Transfer Station at 31 Caldwell Road. This collection, organized by Northfield resident Annie Chappell, is for Northfield residents only, but a Transfer Station permit is not required.

Montague residents may bring materials to the Montague Transfer Station at 11 Sandy Lane in Turners Falls. This collection, organized by the citizen action group Drawdown Montague, is open to residents of any of the five villages: Turners Falls, Lake Pleasant, Millers Falls, Montague Center and Montague City.

This effort builds on the success of the April 2022 pilot collection, where events in these two towns diverted 70 cubic yards of Styrofoam from the landfill. According to the waste management district, foam blocks collected at these events are recycled at Gold Circuit E-Cycling in Agawam, with the recycled material later being used in picture frames, molding or building insulation.

“Everyone that brought Styrofoam packing material was so appreciative that we do this collection,” Chappell said.

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