Markham’s initiative boosts Styrofoam recycling

Community saw spike in online purchases delivered using Styrofoam packaging during COVID-19 pandemic

Yorkregion.com
Aug. 19, 2021
Irene Wong

Markham boosts the volume of Styrofoam recycled by 150 per cent, with 30 tonnes recycled in six months, as a result of a multi-year plan to reduce the amount of single-use plastics that end up in landfill.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the community saw a large rise in online purchases delivered using Styrofoam packaging. At that point, Markham initiated banning Styrofoam packaging from garbage pickup.

Residents must use clear plastic bags for their garbage, and those with visible Styrofoam packaging are not collected. The Styrofoam must be dropped off at a Markham Recycling Depot.

The city works with a Markham-based waste management company, the Recycle People Corporation, to recycle Styrofoam into new products such as crown moulding, picture frames and benches.

Farid Parhami, president of the Recycle People Corporation, said, “One of the things we do for City of Markham, and we are very proud, is managing and operating the unique Styrofoam and polystyrene foam recycling facility that they have. They received lots of bags drop-off a week. We run it into the machine, we compact and we make them into blocks. So, it is more convenient to ship it.”

Markham’s single-use plastics initiative led to the Plaque Award, which is the highest award from the Peter J. Marshall Innovation Award Jury, presented at the 2021 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference on August 17.

The P.J. Marshall Award is an annual competitive process to acknowledge municipalities who have had creativity and success in implementing new, innovative ways of serving the public.

“Markham’s success in keeping more single-use plastics out of landfill is a clear example of the positive impact of municipal innovation in our communities,” said Brian Rosborough, AMO executive director. “The city’s public engagement program helped to get residents on board with the plan, and it’s their participation that is ultimately helping the initiative succeed.”

Single-use plastics are items that are typically used once before being thrown away. These items are often lightweight, low cost and durable, making them convenient but also challenging to dispose of. One of the most common single-use plastics is expanded polystyrene form, better known as Styrofoam. Styrofoam can exist in its solid form for thousands of years, taking up space in landfills or ending up as litter.