County and Ridgefield Park Aims to Promote EPS Styrofoam Recycling

Officials from the County of Bergen and the Village of Ridgefield Park have come together to mark the commencement of a new partnership aimed at providing Bergen County municipalities with an efficient and sustainable solution for recycling EPS Styrofoam.

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), commonly recognized as Styrofoam, is one of the most extensively utilized materials globally for packaging and insulation. However, it poses a significant environmental challenge as it takes more than 500 years to decompose naturally. Although EPS Styrofoam is highly recyclable, its recycling at the consumer level has proven to be a complex endeavor. Recognizing the urgent need to address this issue, County and Village officials have collaborated intensively over the past year to establish an agreement that would facilitate the acquisition of an EPS Densifying Machine. This machine is expected to enhance sustainability efforts and bolster recycling programs within the region.

The groundbreaking agreement, officially designated as Bergen County Commissioners Resolution 748-23, received authorization on June 21, 2023, from the Bergen County Board of Commissioners. Under the terms of this agreement, Bergen County has committed to allocating $40,000 to the Village of Ridgefield Park, enabling them to purchase and install an EPS Densifying Machine, which will be situated on Village property. In accordance with the agreement, the Village of Ridgefield Park will make this EPS Densifier available to any Bergen County municipality interested in collecting and recycling EPS Styrofoam. This will be achieved through the establishment of local shared service agreements.

The EPS Densifier, which was procured by the Village in August from RecycleTech Corp., a company based in Elmwood Park, is now officially operational. It boasts the capacity to densify 200 pounds of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) per hour. This milestone represents a significant leap forward in the region's recycling efforts, particularly for EPS Styrofoam.

The collaboration between Bergen County and the Village of Ridgefield Park promises to provide substantial benefits to municipalities that are either already engaged in EPS Styrofoam collection efforts or those considering commencing such initiatives. One of the most notable advantages is the significant reduction in transportation and storage costs. Prior to the implementation of this agreement, the Village of Ridgefield Park used to collect EPS Styrofoam and transport it to processing facilities located as far away as Sussex County and Eastern Pennsylvania. With the EPS Densifying Machine now centrally located within Bergen County, municipalities will have a more accessible and cost-effective means to recycle this material.

Recycled EPS Styrofoam holds the potential to be repurposed in the manufacturing of new EPS Polystyrene packaging materials or even rigid plastic products like picture frames and moldings. This circular approach to recycling aligns with sustainability goals and contributes to the reduction of waste in the region.