DUE TO THE LACK OF A MARKET,
FOAM THAT HAS ANY COLOR OTHER THAN WHITE
WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED.
Guide to Foam Recycling at the City Recycle Center
The City of New Braunfels accepts completely white plastic foam for recycling ONLY at its drop-off location -
City Recycle Center, 488 S. Castell Ave. The type of plastic foam currently accepted is called expanded polystyrene (EPS), commonly identified with the #6 code. If it is not clearly marked with the #6 emblem, it will likely not be accepted.
REMEMBER - all foam brought for recycling MUST be free of food residue, tape, labels, and any other items that might be attached to the foam. The City Recycle Center does not have the facility space to remove these prior to densification.
Bring foam in a bag or container that can be easily and quickly emptied.
Once dropped-off, an onsite machine cuts the foam into small pieces, heats it, and densifies it. Once densified, the densified foam can be used by plastics manufacturers to create new products, such as picture frames and crown molding.
Below are some frequently asked questions about the types of foam that are accepted for recycling.