Recycling Polystyrene Foam: Good For Your Company And The Environment

Expanded Polystyrene, or EPS, is a versatile material that is lightweight, easy to produce and will fit within your company’s budget. EPS can be processed and moulded into a myriad of different products, such as packing “peanuts” or food service containers. It can also be used in commercial and residential building projects. Because of it’s extreme buoyancy, marine equipment and construction jetties can also be constructed of EPS.

The Positive Qualities Of Polystyrene Foam

Many of our clients prefer EPS foam for their construction projects for a number of reasons. EPS is an excellent insulator because does not deteriorate, and it is resistant to damage from pests, such as mice or rats. These products can be cut into a variety of forms, including pipe and sheet insulation for both industrial and residential projects.

The Negative Qualities Of Polystyrene Foam

Throughout the years, EPS products have gotten a bad reputation as a major environmental problem. Cities have attempted to ban EPS food service packaging because they are discarded after one use. Although they are easy to cut, polystyrene sheets and blocks cause potential problems for the environment. That is why it is essential to process waste EPS properly. EPS is also at least 95% air, which makes it very lightweight and versatile, but this also means that waste EPS can easily blow out of landfills and waste receptacles. These discarded pieces of polystyrene can then cause problems for marine life, wildlife, and the environment as a whole.

The Solution To The Environmental Issues Surrounding Polystyrene Foam

The ultimate solution: We all need to make an effort to recycle.

EPS is so versatile, but is also potentially harmful to the environment if it’s mismanaged. Because of this, recycling programs have been implemented to solve the problem.

The first step is finding a local recycling centre that offers an EPS recycling program. The waste EPS is then compacted and shipped to the processing facility. It is processed into pellets through a granulation machine, then compressed and packed onto pallets. Those pallets are sent to facilities where they are melted down to make a number of products, including garden seats, fence posts and other extruded form plastic products.

Many companies recognize the benefits of recycling EPS waste and have implemented programs within their facilities. Foam Technologies recycles its EPS cut offs and scraps, which are by-products of the manufacturing process. The EPS manufactured at Foam Technologies does not contain hydro fluorocarbon (HFC) or hydro chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) blowing agents, which can deplete the ozone and damage ozone quality.

Your business can also make a difference by implementing an EPS recycling program and encouraging the recycling of commercial EPS materials.