Top 20 Ways To Reuse Styrofoam

Have you recently bought something that came in Styrofoam packaging? To prevent the packing material and other scraps from ending up in a landfill or in the ocean, think about using it again before you throw it away and always recycle what you don't need.

1. Styrofoam Packing Peanuts‍

You can always reuse Styrofoam peanuts for their originally intended purpose—packaging. Alternatively, if you don't frequently send out packages, you might give the peanuts you receive to a nearby shipping company in clean condition for it to be recycled.

2. Using Expanded Polystyrene As Plant Pot Filler‍

Large plants require big plant pots and a lot of soil to fill them; this process can be costly. Additionally, the soil-filled pots can become very heavy and difficult to transport. Instead of using 100% soil, add some packing peanuts or similar sized pieces of EPS to the bottom of a sizable plant pot before adding the soil. This makes the container lighter, and the plant won't be harmed by the Styrofoam peanuts.

3. Styrofoam Filler For Loose Screws‍

To fix a loose screw, Remove it from its socket and place it through a piece of Styrofoam before you begin to screw it back in place. Because of the foam, there won't be much room left inside, and it will fit snugly.

4. Styrofoam Containers As Seedling Starters‍

Use polystyrene cups that are lying around from your most recent company party to sow seeds for non-edible plants.

First, poke a few drainage holes in the bottom of the cups and then add the potting soil and seeds of your choice,water lightly and place them in a sunny area. Once the seedlings are big enough, they should be transplanted to bigger more suitable pots. 

5. Using Expanded Polystyrene To Make Homemade Glue‍

Perfect for use in school craft projects, Expanded polystyrene (EPS) can be converted into a simple home glue.

Take acetone in liquid form (Nail polish remover) and a glass, metal or ceramic dish (just like it dissolves EPS, acetone will dissolve plastic bowls). This is all you need .

First, fill the dish with some acetone.Next, scraps of polystyrene should be placed in the liquid and carefully pressed down until the scraps dissolve into a gooey liquid, which becomes your glue. Keep going until there is no more pure liquid acetone. 

Use the glue right away and if not keep it in an acetone-filled sealed glass or metal container (the glue will dry out otherwise).

6. Using Expanded Polystyrene As A Perlite Substitute‍

In growing mediums used for container gardening or growing seedlings, perlite is utilised to improve drainage, aeration, and healthy roots.

For non-edible plants, you can make your own soilless mix at home by substituting polystyrene, like that used in butchers' meat trays, for perlite. Sharp scissors should be used to carefully clean and cut the polystyrene into small squares or puff beads can be used directly skipping the next step. Add the components to a blender along with just enough water for the foam to float to the top. Blend for approximately a minute. You will get a light and airy alternative for perlite by draining the mixture. To create your own soilless potting or seedling mix, combine with equal proportions of sphagnum peat moss or coco peat.

7. Styrofoam Boxes For Cooling‍

Because EPS is a poor heat conductor, expanded polystyrene coolers are very efficient. Due to the millions of minute air bubbles mixed with the foamy hydrocarbon, heat moves through the substance at an extremely sluggish rate. You can still benefit from this quality even if you do not use an expanded polystyrene cooler by adding packing peanuts to your regular cooler filled with ice to keep things extra chilly.

8. Styrofoam Sheets For Greenhouse Insulation‍

For extra insulation in season extending structures such as greenhouses or to cover and insulate garage windows during the winter, used Styrofoam or expanded polystyrene sheets work well. For beehives, high-density polystyrene foam provides excellent winter insulation.

A word of caution: Do not reuse polystyrene sheets as insulation in the living room, bedroom, or other areas inside since they are highly flammable unless they have been treated with a flame retardant.

9. Styrofoam Boxes For Composting‍

An old Styrofoam cooler or fish crate can make an excellent compost container. You can recycle your food scraps efficiently while also obtaining fantastic planting soil for your garden. Styrofoam containers are more efficient than metal compost bins.

10. Expanded Polystyrene Arts And Crafts Stand‍

First, cut a piece from an old sheet of EPS to the size you desire the tray to be. Next, make a Styrofoam border by sticking stips of Styrofoam to the sides. Then, flip it over and decorate it however you want. You can use it to display anything you desire,from art projects including Plasticine and clay creations.

11. Styrofoam Photo and Document Protector

Use clean old Styrofoam trays to preserve vital documents from bending and being damaged when storing them, this can be used to store things such as important photos or certificates.

12. Expanded Polystyrene Floating Tray Or Kickboard For The Pool‍

Styrofoam is almost indestructible by natural elements like water and being more than 95 per cent air floats easily. Make a pool drink holder or floating tray out of leftover foam cooler material or old EPS sheets.

To create a floating can holder, first cut two pieces to the size you want the finished holder to be. Then drill holes into one piece that is the same size as a soda can. Using a hot-melt glue gun, stick the piece with the holes in it onto  the other piece and you are done.

Simply stick short foam strips that are at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) high around the perimeter of the material that is the size of a tray to create a floating tray with a rim.

A sharp kitchen knife or paper cutting blade and an old sheet of EPS is all you need to cut a panel of foam into a kickboard for your swimming pool. Just draw out your design and cut it out, like shown in the picture above.

13. Using Styrofoam Beads And Scrap As Stuffing

Because Styrofoam peanuts are so soft, you can use it to stuff things like cushions, plush toys, and beanbag chairs with them in a cost-effective manner. The majority of inexpensive bean bag chairs are perfect for using Styrofoam scrap because it is lightweight yet sturdy enough to maintain shape for years.

14. Expanded Polystyrene Art Base/Canvas‍

For painting or drawing with markers or ink, use an old Styrofoam tray or sheet as a canvas or base. When you're finished, hopefully, you won't toss away your masterpiece, and you'll have used that piece of Styrofoam once again.

15. Styrofoam Sound Amplifier For Tablets And Phones (Speaker Box)

When you can build your own speaker box out of a Styrofoam cup, why spend money on one?

This is how you do it:

On the edge of a Styrofoam cup, trace your phone's base (where the speaker is) with a pen or pencil, be careful to keep it upright.

Using a knife or pair of scissors, cut out the rectangle that you traced on the cup.

To prevent the cup from rolling around when in use, glue a pencil or pieces of cardboard to either side of the container.

Make sure the speaker is within the cup when inserting the phone into the slot and enjoy the enhanced sound!

16. Using Expanded Polystyrene To Aid Shrubs In Surviving The Winter‍

Shrubs may require a little assistance to withstand the effects of winter. Old Styrofoam insulation sheets are ideal for the task. They are rigid, water-resistant and wind and salt-resistant. 

Create a small triangular tent over the plant by cutting old Styrofoam sheets in half and lashing them together. Drive bamboo garden stakes through the bottom of each piece and into the ground to secure it in place. Then use duct or packing tape to connect the pieces.

Also more likely to survive with Styrofoam cover are plants in containers that spend the winter outdoors.

17. Styrofoam Tray To Keep Sweet Treats In The Freezer For Shipping Or Serving‍

A foam block from an old Styrofoam cooler can be reduced in size so it will sit flat in your freezer and be used to create a number of snow cones or ice cream cones to go. Make cone shaped holes that are just big enough and close together so that they won't collide, tip over, or protrude through the bottom. Cones are filled, then inserted into the ready holes. Then place everything in the freezer so that it is ready to serve at any time.

18. Using Styrofoam To Maintain Nail Polish‍

Are you due for a manicure or pedicure? Styrofoam cut into small pieces from a block of old foam packaging placed between each finger or toe during the application of nail polish can help spread them apart and maintain the varnish perfectly until it has a chance to dry.

19. EPS Crates For Stools‍

Not enough stools for your barbecue on the terrace?

We got you covered! You can use an old Styrofoam cooler or fish crate in emergencies instead of purchasing a new stool that will inevitably become ruined and dirty outside. 

20. Using Styrofoam Boxes For Groceries‍

Keep a few old Styrofoam coolers in the trunk of your car when you go grocery shopping. The cooler will keep your fruit and veg produce nice and fresh and also prevent it from rolling about.

The Importance Of Recycling Old, Unused Styrofoam And Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Scrap

When Expanded Polystyrene and Styrofoam reach landfills it takes up a lot of valuable space thanks to its bulk and more importantly will remain there forever. EPS and Styrofoam being completely non biodegradable, recycling is the best way to go. EPS and Styrofoam scrap must be segregated separately before collection or drop off at recycling centres.

Recycling is done at specialised facilities and not all plastic recyclers accept Expanded Polystyrene and Styrofoam. Look for expanded polystyrene (EPS) recycling drop-off centres closest to your area. If you are located in the Middle East contact GreenTheory for an immediate solution.