Each month, the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine’s 250+ research laboratories generate nearly 900 pounds of clean expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging and coolers — amounting to over 5 tons annually that traditionally ended up in landfill (uc.edu). With a mission to change this, a team led by Dr. Ana Luisa Kadekaro secured a $53,600 ReSource Impact grant, matched by university funds, to establish an EPS collection and densification programme.
The pilot began at the Vontz Center for Molecular Studies, where lab volunteers sort clean, empty EPS for pick-up. The material is taken to Eco Development in Mason, Ohio — which uses a screw-press densifier to compress it and then sells the resulting blocks for reuse in insulation and other products (uc.edu).
Since July, the pilot site has already diverted 223 pounds of EPS — reducing bulky waste and creating operational data for scaling up (uc.edu). Success at Vontz led to expansion to the Medical Sciences Building and plans to include Kettering Lab Complex and Reading campus.
System logistics: Campus-to-compactor chain
- Collection points are set up in labs, managed by volunteers, and include instructions for clean EPS only (excluding food waste).
- Transport is handled by UC Grounds and Moving Services to Eco Development’s processing facility.
- Densification transforms light-volume EPS into dense blocks that are sold as feedstock—closing the loop with reuse in insulation and other applications (uc.edu).
- Data tracking supports grant reporting and provides metrics for future expansion—aligning internal sustainability goals with infrastructure outcomes.
Why this matters
This case demonstrates that institutional EPS waste doesn’t need to be a disposal burden. By creating a clear campus processing pathway — with funding, volunteers, logistics, and regional infrastructure — UC has turned laboratory foam from landfill material into part of a sustainable resource stream. The pilot establishes a replicable model for other universities or research institutions to follow.
FACT BOX
| Item | Value |
| Pilot launch | July 2024 |
| Location | University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio, USA |
| Volume generated | ~900 lb/month (~5 tons/year) |
| Equipment partner | Eco Development screw-press densifier, Mason, OH |
| Grant funding | $53,600 (ReSource Impact grant) + $13,400 matching university funds |
| EPS diverted to date | 223 lb (Vontz Center pilot) |
| Expansion plan | Medical Sciences Building → Kettering Lab → Reading campus |
Source:
“UC College of Medicine receives grant to launch styrofoam recycling project” — University of Cincinnati, 5 Dec 2024 (uc.edu)
