Recycling is not always easy. But many of the nation’s businesses and organizations recycle expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging products with success. EPS recycling programs vary from organization to organization but all demonstrate a commitment to the environment and to sound business practices.

The basic goal of EPS: Think Recycling is to provide a realistic look at EPS recycling and solutions. The decision to implement an EPS recycling program should be based on sound economic and environmental considerations. If you decide that an EPS recycling program makes sense, this manual will help determine what form it should take, as well as offer specific guidelines to help the program run efficiently.

A dedicated, single-stream EPS recycling program is described in this manual, but the same steps can be used to incorporate EPS into an organization’s existing recycling program. The four basic steps critical to implementing a successful polystyrene recycling program are:

• Estimate the Amount of EPS
• Find a Recycler
• Design a Program
• Educate Participants

When evaluating the environmental aspects of a packaging material or system, it is necessary to take into account the package performance, environmental impact during its lifecycle and end-of-life options. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) transport packaging is smart, safe and sustainable. With EPS cushioning you can achieve less weight and lower damage rates which translate into positive sustainability factors across the board. EPS can be same-recycled into a product of equal value or up-cycled into a product of higher value. And, EPS is often less energy intensive than alternative choices.

Based on the Sustainable Packaging Coalition definitions for sustainable packaging, EPS demonstrates favorable environmental performance in most aspects, making it a worthy consideration for product shipments that require superior protection.

• Made of 98% air, EPS is an inert material without harmful chemicals that off-gas or leach during its use or disposal.
• EPS is widely recognized as a safe choice for use in food contact packaging by government regulatory agencies throughout the world.

• Because of its versatility EPS offers significant savings in design and development, product assembly and distribution costs.
• With customized packaging designs EPS delivers exactly the right amount of product protection. Its high tensile strength and cellular structure give this lightweight product exceptional cushioning properties.

• Recycled EPS is used in both closed-loop and open-loop processes to make a variety of applications from recycled-content foam packaging to durable goods and innovative new building products.
• In 2006 more than 52% of all EPS collected for recycling was used to make recycled-content packaging.

• Innovations in manufacturing technologies ensure EPS production minimizes energy consumption with mold cavities that cool quickly and manufacturing processes that recycle water and recapture air emissions.
• Many EPS manufacturers are ISO certified.

• EPS feedstock is converted into a finished product 32 times its original volume—virtually turning air into a strong and efficient packaging material.
• If all EPS packaging were replaced with corrugated cardboard, paper, wood, molded fiber etc., compared with current figures raw material requirements would rise to 560%, power consumption to 215% and the landfill volume to 150%.

For more details, visit www.epspackaging.org. Copy taken from CD titled ‘EPS Sustainability Toolkit’, provided by AFRP (Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers).

Downloads from AFPR (Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers)- PDF format:
PS: Think Recycling. How to Implement and Administer a Successful Polystyrene Recycling Program
2006 EPS Recycling Rate Report