Posts: 10,399
Threads: 2,662
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
Ever since we moved last summer we have been generating far more trash than can fit into two trash cans. Mostly it is large boxes filled with foam so they can't be broken down. My father-in-law periodically takes my pile to the trash but usually I have this big unsightly junkpile next to the driveway.
I'm curious how other people deal with this. Same as me or have you discovered a magic pill?
Dave
Posts: 37,099
Threads: 2,599
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
why are you obtaining so many foamy boxes?
Posts: 20,320
Threads: 766
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
4
Does your city have a recycling center down by the landfill? I find that most of the boxes and junk that I accumulate can be recycled (sometimes disassembly required), that's where I get rid of my foam peanuts, bubble wrap, and bag-o-air too.
Posts: 19,357
Threads: 1,726
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
Cardboard works well to start fires in the fireplace. Some of the foam is actually foamed soy bean paste. If you put it into water it will all but disappear. Test a single piece first of course, but you can actully flush some of it. The rest can be recycled. I think that one of the churches on Tieton Dr. has some public recycling bins in their lot. I pay an extra $1.50 each week to have them collect my recyclable materials.
Posts: 83
Threads: 5
Joined: Mar 2007
Our neighborhood (non-chain) mailbox/shipping place takes boxes and packing materials and resuses them, so perhaps there might be a similar place near you?
Posts: 50,838
Threads: 670
Joined: Mar 2024
Lots of shipping places will take peanuts off your hands.
The cellulose ones can go in a rain barrel. (the non-cellulose will not disappear)Theoretically, compost.
For large blocks of polystyrene foam, there are places you can ship them to, if your local recycler isn't set up for their bulk.
http://www.epspackaging.org/info.html
Recycled/collected here:
cardboard
newspaper
#1,#2 plastic
metals
glass
once a week.
plastic bags go back to the grocery store
I don't burn corrugated cardboard because some of the glues are supposedly fairly nasty when burned.
Chipboard gets chewed as paper.
I have my own paper dump.(treated as leaves)
Posts: 10,399
Threads: 2,662
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
Frank, can you let me know which church it is that picks stuff up for you? Thanks,
Dave
Posts: 21,885
Threads: 1,109
Joined: Mar 2024
Reputation:
0
Big boxes, hmm. How about you send them off to some random address? FedEx, UPS, hey it might never get there but it will be off your hands at least.
