Why recycled polystyrene foam and EPS are your best choices

We found two important facts about expanded polystyrene (also known as EPS or polystyrene foam). The first thing they point out is that EPS packaging is recyclable. The second thing is that it is a small part of our landfill and solid waste stream. EPS also makes up less than 1% of total municipal solid waste (by weight and volume). This is very encouraging considering that EPS is considered by many to be the unfit child of the recycling world. 

Where did all this EPS and polystyrene foam come from? 

Polystyrene was discovered by German pharmacist Eduard Simon in 1839. When he separated it from the natural resin, he didn't actually realize what he had discovered. Eighty years later, organic chemist Hermann Staudinger discovered that Simon had actually discovered a plastic polymer. Staudinger was eventually awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for all his polystyrene-related research, and in the 1930s, BASF scientists discovered a way to produce polystyrene commercially. At the end of that decade, Dow Chemical introduced products made from polystyrene to the United States. 

Polystyrene foam was invented by Otis Ray McIntire and patented in 1944. McIntire was determined to create a rubber-like material that could be used for insulation purposes. When he mixed styrene and isobutylene, he accidentally created the foam polystyrene. The result of the combination was a foam that was 30 times lighter and more flexible than polystyrene in solid form. It's also cheap to make. 

Fast forward to the present. Not long ago, the global EPS market was estimated at 6.62 million tons. North America accounted for 10.1 percent of the global sales share. Demand for EPS or polystyrene foam is expected to grow, given that the material has proven to be very useful in the construction industry. 

How to overcome EPS and polystyrene foam recycling challenges

While many municipalities and recycling centers do not accept polystyrene foam or EPS packaging, this does not mean that these materials are not sustainable. These locations may not have the right foam compaction equipment to convert these lightweight, bulky materials into a dense form that can be economically shipped. If your business has been considering EPS machinery for recycling, know that recycling companies need dense EPS materials. This 

material sales revenue can even offset the cost of EPS recycling compactors.

If your local recycling company does not accept EPS or polystyrene foam, you can take the next step and purchase the right equipment for your company. If you are ready to get more information on equipment for densifying EPS and XPS foam for recycling, we will be happy to help you.