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RANDLEMAN, N.C. – Old egg cartons, foam plates and cups now have a more useful future than just the bottom of the landfill. On Thursday, a Triad plant opened one of the state's first foam recycling centers that changes polystyrene foam into a number of usable items.

Dart Container, a foam manufacturing and distribution plant, sits deep in the heart of Randleman, N.C. For the last 12 years, the center's been known primarily for producing polystyrene materials.

"There's no one that makes more different food service items than Dart Container," said plant manager Steve Ridgill.

But instead of just cranking out foam products, the plant will now recycle them. That's because the brand new recycling center is believed to be one of the first of it's kinds in the state, and also one of just over a dozen within the corporation nationwide.

"We'll collect post consumer products, plates, cups, bowls, packaging, foam packaging material," said Ridgill.

From there, the material is put into a densifier machine that smashes all the material into an easily transferable cylinder.

"The same 30 pounds in bulk can be densified into a unit that's about 30 pounds and about 15 inches in diameter and about 15 inches tall," Ridgill said.

Once the foam goes through the densifier, it is then shredded and made into polystyrene pellets that are transformed into a number of reusable products.

Here are some easy recycling tips to follow before dropping material off at the new site:
• Remember to always rinse the containers of food
• Look for the number six symbol surrounded by a triangle to know the foam is recyclable
• Place all foam in a clear plastic bag, leaving out lids and straws
• Never drop off insulation or packaging peanuts because the plant does not recycle those

The free drop-off site is open to general public and to businesses Monday through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.