• Foam packaging is also known as polystyrene, styrofoam, EPE or EPS.
• Takeout containers, plates and cups
• Packing peanuts
• Cushion packaging used to protect new products
• Egg cartons and meat trays
• Floral foam
• Packing sleeves, sheets and bags
• Plant-based and bio-based foam packaging like Green Cell foam

There are two ways to dispose of foam packaging.

Put all types of foam into your black cart as garbage. Put foam into a garbage bag to keep it from blowing away during collection/disposal.

Take certain types of foam to a City Eco Centre for free recycling – if you bring other garbage, charges will apply. Keep your foam packaging separated from other materials.

Acceptable expanded polystyrene foam including:

• Foam cushion packaging (often used to protect electronics, furniture, etc.)
• Foam egg cartons
• Foam meat trays
• Foam take-out containers and cups

No black polystyrene foam. White and coloured foam is acceptable.

• Remove all tape and labels on foam shipping packaging.
• Foam must be clean with no food residue. Remove absorbent pads from meat trays and rinse takeout containers.
• Do NOT put foam packaging in your blue cart as these items cannot be sorted and end up contaminating the other recyclables. 

• Foam products are too light for the sorting machines to sort during the recycling process and ends up contaminating the other recyclables. 
• Foam also contains plastic which doesn't break down during composting and will contaminate the finished compost. 
• Even if labelled as “biodegradable” or “compostable”, these types of foam materials do not break down properly at the composting facility. They may also contain synthetic and plastic parts that will contaminate the finished compost. This includes corn-based and starch foam such as Green Cell Foam.