BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – Belmont and Jefferson Counties are leading the green way with the first foam recycling program in Ohio, according to Anita Petrella, Executive Director of JB Green Team.
Petrella announced the new foam recycling initiative (better known by the trademark name styrofoam) at Wednesday’s regular meeting of the Belmont County commissioners.
According to its website, “JB Green Team is a two-county government agency responsible for implementing a solid waste management plan designed to achieve the goals set by the Ohio EPA for waste reduction, recycling and reducing reliance on land filling waste generated within the two counties.”
Petrella said her group has placed the foam recycling bins in Belmont and Jefferson counties and they are seeing a lot of use from the public already. She said the types of foam that can be recycled are foam typically used in packaging for electronics like computers and TVs.
After processing, the resulting foam produces ingots which are sold for use in cruise ship frames and insulation. Petrella said a company in New England buys the ingots for use in the cruise ship industry.
JB Green Team received a $150,000 grant for the foam recycling project, and its machine to process the foam cost $84,000.
Petrella said JB Green Team also just launched a new app which you can download on the App Store or Google Play, or link to via their website here. The app offers recycling tips and bin locations.
