In late December 2019, Middletown (Monmouth County, NJ) became the first municipality in the state to acquire a Foam Cycle EPS densifier, enabling residents from Middletown and surrounding towns to drop off clean expanded polystyrene (EPS) at two permanent collection points: the Middletown Recycling Center and the Train Station drop-off (Patch).
Rather than paying per-ton landfill fees, Middletown invested in densification capacity. The machine processes foam at a rate of around 200 lbs/hour, compacting loosely structured EPS into dense blocks—reducible to around 1% of its initial volume (montclair.edu). The resulting material is sold locally to manufacturers, including Princeton Moulding Group and Revere Picture Framing, for use in picture frames and crown molding (montclair.edu).
This collection system complements Middletown’s wider “Strive for Five” waste education campaign. Public Works staff tag contaminated recyclables and provide outreach at community events, ensuring EPS is separated correctly before densification (montclair.edu).
The system behind the solution
- Infrastructure: Two drop-off locations serve both Middletown and Monmouth County—one at the Recycling Center (open Thu–Mon, daytime) and a 24/7 kiosk at the train station (Patch).
- Processing: The Foam Cycle densifier compacts clean EPS packaging (e.g. electronics, furniture) into dense ingots.
- Logistics: Staff gather foam weekly for processing; densified ingots are then sold to local manufacturers.
- Economic outcome: By eliminating bulky waste, the town extended landfill life (estimated saving: 2,250 cubic yards annually) and realized cost savings compared to landfill tipping fees (montclair.edu).
Why this matters
This case demonstrates how municipalities can integrate EPS recycling through a visible, permanent infrastructure investment—not token collection days. Middletown’s approach:
- Converts lightweight, high-volume waste into material value.
- Saves landfill space and taxpayer costs.
- Enables local reuse, reinforcing the circular resource logic.
This initiative is a model for small-to-mid-size municipalities seeking evidence-based, infrastructure-led residual waste strategies.
FACT BOX
| Item | Value |
| Launch | 26 December 2019 |
| Location | Middletown Township, Monmouth County, NJ, USA |
| Drop-off points | Recycling Center (Thu–Mon), Train Station (24/7) |
| Equipment | Foam Cycle EPS densifier (~200 lb/hour) |
| End product | Densified blocks sold for frames, molding |
| Landfill savings | ≈ 2,250 cubic yards/year |
| Program context | Integrated into “Strive for Five” recycling education |
