Tell One Friend: Put Styrofoam in the Garbage

It's one of the most commonly asked questions: "Can I put Styrofoam in my blue bag for recycling?"

Styrofoam is difficult to recycle economically because it is extremely light and bulky. This makes it difficult to collect, sort, and transport to recyclers. Instead, the City of Edmonton intends to use Styrofoam as feedstock for the Waste to Biofuels Facility, where it will be turned into ethanol.

Let's be clear with friends, neighbours, and co-workers. Recycling works well, when we recycle right. Put Styrofoam in the garbage.

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Tell your friends, family, neighbours, and co-workers.

One Small Ask
"Will you put Styrofoam in the garbage?
Not in your blue bag.”

Prompt Them
Label at your recycling. "Thank you for NOT wish-cycling"

Give Feedback
"Hey, I noticed that you put Styrofoam in the recycling, months ago, but now you are putting it in the garbage. That's great. It helps our recycling system a lot.”

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The Reuse Centre also takes some types of Styrofoam. Save your Styrofoam balls, cubes, and sheets and bring them to the Reuse Centre.

Visit edmonton.ca/waste to learn What Goes Where.
Next Tell One Friend: Refuse the Refuse
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Edmonton Waste Management Centre Welcomes Their First Artist-in-Residence, Leanne Olson

The Edmonton Waste Management Centre (EWMC) is a unique collection of advanced waste processing and research facilities where municipal waste is transformed into useful resources. The Centre is 233 hectares in size; the Composting Facility alone occupies space equivalent to almost five football fields. On average, 4,500 trucks bearing 9,800 tonnes of material cross the scale every week. Over 15,000 students, teachers and adults tour the Centre each year.

“We’re excited for this opportunity to host an artist-in-residence at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre,” said Michael Robertson, contract manager with the City of Edmonton’s Materials Recovery Facility. “Leanne’s passion for capturing change in the natural world connects to our goals of waste reduction and environmental stewardship. I think that her work here will provide a fresh perspective on waste and a new way to engage with Edmonton residents and our staff.”

In September, the Edmonton Arts Council and the City of Edmonton put out the call for an artist to take residency at this massive municipal waste facility. More than 25 local artists applied for the opportunity, and due to her artistic focus and environmental interests, local artist Leanne Olson was ultimately selected for the position.

Olson is a photo-based artist born in Toronto and raised in Edmonton. In 2002, she received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Film & Media Studies from the University of Alberta. Olson also has a history of working and engaging with the community, with experience as a lead artist in the print studio at the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts and as an ongoing community art project facilitator with the Bissell Centre in Edmonton.

Click Here to see more of Leanne's work & read her interview