Did you receive a gift this holiday season packed in Styrofoam? You can still be green by recycling those bulky blocks.

The City of Auburn hosts its first Holiday Styrofoam Block Recycling Collection Event Dec. 26-Jan. 4 at the City’s gravel parking lot, South Division and First Street Southwest (south of the Sunbreak Café).

Collection carts will be located in the northeast corner of the parking lot, with resident access available during daylight hours. Only clean white Styrofoam blocks can be accepted.

“Each year, residents and businesses in King County throw away an enormous amount of Styrofoam because there are very few places to recycle the material” said Kathleen Edman, the City’s solid waste customer care specialist. “We hope to reduce the amount going to the landfill by offering convenient holiday Styrofoam™ recycling collection here in Auburn.”

To identify Styrofoam blocks, look for the #6 or “EPS” inside the recycling symbol. Or, bend the material – it should “snap” fairly easily and release tiny beads. Remember, clean Styrofoam blocks only. Please, no Styrofoam cups, food or meat trays, foam sheeting, plastic wrap, plastic bags, packing peanuts, or any other plastics. Clean, dry packing “peanuts” are accepted for re-use at most local parcel shipping outlets year-round.

The Styrofoam blocks will be recycled through Styro Recycle, LLC. This local company heats and compresses the blocks into dense material, which manufacturers use to make new plastic products.

Large quantities of Styrofoam blocks and blocks from businesses should be taken directly to Styro Recycle, LLC, 800 SW 43rd St., Renton (on the alley west of IKEA’s parking lot). This site operates year-round and accepts clean Styrofoam for free. For more information, visit www.styrorecycle.com or call 253-838-9555.

Want to know how to recycle other items? Please visit: www.kingcounty.gov/whatdoidowith. For more information on waste reduction and recycling in Auburn, visit www.auburnwa.gov/solidwaste.