Foam Recycling Coalition Opens 2016 Call For Grant Applications
Falls Church, Va. (PRWEB) February 25, 2016 -- The Foam Recycling Coalition has started the 2016 application period for its annual grant program to support increased recycling of packaging made from foam polystyrene. The FRC, part of the Foodservice Packaging Institute, seeks applicants looking to start or strengthen a post-consumer foam polystyrene recycling program.
“Launched last year, the Foam Recycling Coalition’s grant program has already given away almost $100,000,” said Lynn Dyer, president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute. “With greater end-market demand for foam polystyrene equipment and handling, our funding program helps recycling facilities include foam polystyrene in their accepted recycling materials.”
Last year’s grantees, Denver’s Alpine Waste & Recycling and Colchester County, Nova Scotia, were awarded grants to purchase equipment that provides foam polystyrene recycling services to their communities. A third grantee announcement is imminent.
Organizations involved in managing residential curbside recycling programs or material recovery facilities are eligible to apply for funding. Available to both public and private organizations, each grant will range from about $15,000 to $50,000.
This initiative helps fund infrastructure for the collection, processing and marketing of products made from foam polystyrene. It targets post-consumer foam polystyrene products, such as foodservice packaging (i.e., cups, plates, bowls, clamshells, cafeteria trays); and other types of packaging, like egg cartons; meat trays; and protective packaging (used when shipping electronics and other fragile items).
Grant amounts will be determined on a case-by-case basis dependent upon equipment needs. No cash match is required, but additional costs may be incurred by the grantee for related items such as site preparation, provision of conveying system, electrical infrastructure, freight and other installation costs.
Grantees are required to communicate the addition of foam polystyrene to their recycling program, both directly to households and in their regular communication materials. Grantees also must commit to collecting, processing and marketing foam polystyrene for a minimum of three years, which includes reporting on the volumes to FRC.
The Foam Recycling Coalition was formed in 2014 to focus exclusively on recycling foodservice packaging made from foam. Its members include Americas Styrenics; Cascades Canada ULC; CKF Inc.; Chick-fil-A; Commodore; Convermex; Dart Container Corp.; Dolco Packaging, A Tekni-Plex Company; Dyne-A-Pak; Genpak; Hawaii Foam Products; NOVA Chemicals Corp.; Pactiv Foodservice/Food Packaging; Shell Chemical LP; Styrolution America; and TOTAL Petrochemicals & Refining USA. Additional financial support of the coalition comes from the EPS Industry Alliance.
Application deadline is April 10, 2016. The first 2016 grant recipient will be announced in late spring. Further information and grant application are available at http://www.fpi.org/recyclefoam.
ABOUT FPI: Founded in 1933, the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI) is the leading authority for the North American foodservice packaging industry. FPI encourages the responsible use of all foodservice packaging through promotion of its benefits and members’ products. Serving as the voice of the industry to educate and influence stakeholders, FPI provides a legal forum to address the challenges and opportunities facing the foodservice packaging industry. Members include foodservice packaging manufacturers and their raw material and machinery suppliers, restaurants, grocery and convenience stores, distributors and nearly 50 school districts, colleges and universities. Learn more at http://www.fpi.org.
ABOUT FRC: The Foam Recycling Coalition (FRC) was formed under the Foodservice Packaging Institute in 2014 to support increased recycling of foodservice packaging made from foam polystyrene. FRC shares general information on foam recycling, provides technical resources and offers funding assistance to programs ready to start or strengthen post-consumer foam recycling. Members include stakeholders from throughout the foodservice packaging value chain. Learn more at http://www.fpi.org/stewardship.
Lynn Dyer, Foodservice Packaging Institute, http://www.fpi.org, +1 571.255.4211, [email protected]
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