New Styrofoam(tm) recycling option helps garner City of Tacoma employee 'Recycler of the Year' award Mark Tveit knew there was a way to divert Styrofoam(tm) packing blocks - known as a space hog in the landfill - from the garbage by recycling them instead. This initiative earned the nine-year City of Tacoma employee the Individual Recycler of the Year award from the Washington State Recycling Association. Tveit's commitment to increase recycling opportunities at the City's Recycling Center, such as the recent addition of Styrofoam(tm), electronic peripherals and high-value metals has added approximately $8,000 in revenue and diverted nearly 50 tons of material from the landfill. Tveit initiated the idea and researched an in-house recycling machine that chops, heats and presses Styrofoam(tm) into 40-pound blocks, which can then be recycled into products such as plastic TV and computer casings. Thanks to Tveit's passion and follow-through to find more efficient ways to reclaim and recycle items brought to the City's Recycling Center (Tacoma Landfill, 3510 S. Mullen St.), Tacoma and Pierce County residents and businesses may now recycle clean and dry #6 Styrofoam(tm) packing blocks. Washington State Recycling Association Board President Scott Campbell will present the award to Tveit at the July 17 Tacoma City Council meeting. About City of Tacoma Solid Waste Management Part of Public Works Environmental Services, Solid Waste Management provides garbage and recycling services for single-family residential homes, multi-family units and commercial businesses. The utility also operates a full-service landfill/transfer center, recycling center and household hazardous waste facility as well as a popular residential bulk item disposal service, Call-2-Haul. Learn more at www.TacomaRecycles.org<http://www.TacomaRecycles.org>. Elle (Michelle) Warmuth, APR City of Tacoma | Community Relations Office 733 Market St. Rm. 11 | Tacoma, WA 98402 P: (253) 591-2005 | F: (253) 591-5788