Since expanded polystyrene (popularly but erroneously known by the trademark Styrofoam) is not easily recyclable due to its light weight and low scrap value, it has become a source for free material for making kites. EPS sheets, blocks, cups, eating plates, packing kernels, and other shapes are used to make the kite's wing and tails. Kite makers may also purchase EPS. Styrofoam-only (or EPS-only) commercial mass-produced kites have been produced by the toy-kite industry both for rotary kites and static-wing kites.
A US Patent held by William B. Curtis of Texas and Wilbur Carleton Scott of Michigan uses expanded polystyrene thermal insulation material for kite making. In the 1960s near Marina Del Rey, California a commercial business produced a single-piece airplane-mimic kite; it was single-surfaced. It had stability and operated in low winds. There was a commercial toy kite of single solid EPS rotary Magnus-effect kite for flying in relatively stiff winds. [http://www.google.com/patents?idTaNSAAAAEBAJ&pgPA1962 U.S. Patent 3087698 Filing date: Jul 11, 1961.]
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