Despite drives to reduce the amount of polystyrene we all use, it remains an essential product to many business. Therefore, where we can’t use reduce or use alternatives to polystyrene, it’s imperative that we treat it responsibly – which includes how to handle polystyrene recycling.

A mammoth 15.6 million tons of polystyrene is produced a year in the world. Nonetheless, the Alliance for Foam Packaging Recycling reports a recycling rate of just 12%. Researchers claim that polystyrene accounts for as much as 30% of total landfill quantity and 20% as waste which can end up in our rivers.

However, polystyrene has a long-lasting effect on our planet as it takes more than 500 years to break down. That indicates, every piece of polystyrene which has ever been generated and subsequently thrown away still exists. And while polystyrene itself is non-toxic, there are concerns it can leach hazardous chemicals in landfill, polluting the environment.

If this has actually inspired you to stop disposing of polystyrene in garbage dump, we commend you. Yet how should you to handle it? Keep reading for GREENMAX's guide to polystyrene recycling.

How much does it cost to dispose of polystyrene?

It is ending up being more and more expensive to handle polystyrene in the general waste stream. Land fill tax remains to increase, up from $ 94.15 per ton in April 2020 to $ 102.10 in April 2023-- a rise of more than 8%. Plus, landfill tax is only expected to go one way in the future.  

Not just is it non-environmentally friendly to throw away polystyrene in landfill, it's becoming increasingly financially unattractive. However, by recycling polystyrene, you can avoid these hefty landfill costs. And by selling these compacted polystyrene blocks to recycling companies, you can convert what was an expense into a new revenue stream.

Can polystyrene be recycled?

It's a typical mistaken belief that polystyrene is a kind of plastic that can not be recycled. Let’s end that misconception currently; polystyrene can be recycled. And in fact, recyclers are even needed to pay for recycled waste polystyrene blocks. For that reason, by recycling polystyrene, you're not only doing the appropriate thing for the world, you can make money also.

How much money can be made from selling polystyrene for recycling?

The amount of revenue you can create from selling compacted polystyrene blocks for recycling varies but you can make as much as $ 500 per ton. Variable factors include the company you are working with, the quantity & quality of compacted polystyrene blocks.

How do I process polystyrene waste for sale?

It's not cost-effective to sell small quantities of polystyrene waste. It has to be worthwhile for recycling companies to collect it, so you'll need to accumulate waste polystyrene so you can offer a viable quantity. Nonetheless, polystyrene can be incredibly voluminous so can take up a lot of storage area. By using a polystyrene compactor, you can considerably reduce the volume of polystyrene and compact it to blocks which can be stacked for collection.

What is a polystyrene compactor?

Polystyrene compactors are advanced when it pertains to handling and compacting polystyrene waste. Waste polystyrene is simply placed into the compactor which compact the materials right into blocks, reducing its volume by around 70%. These compacted polystyrene blocks are more stable and denser, making them easier to store and safer to transport. As the polystyrene compactor does the work for you, the demand for manual labor and the risk of human mistake is reduced. Polystyrene compactors can run 24/7 with smaller and larger heavy-duty machines available, able to keep up with operational requirements no matter how demanding the schedule.

What are the advantages of polystyrene recycling?

The most exceptional advantage to recycling waste polystyrene is its contribution towards the environment and reducing a business's carbon footprint. Recycling allows waste to be reused time and time again, saving on raw materials and production as well as reducing the amount sent to landfill where it will fester for hundreds of years.

As well as contributing towards a busines's zero-waste targets, recycling polystyrene conserves money on landfill disposal costs and possibly generates new income when it is sold on to recyclers. In addition, compacting polystyrene helps to save valuable space as well as being neater and easier to store.

Where to purchase a polystyrene compactor?

GREENMAX supplies high quality polystyrene compactors for sale throughout the Australia. Our team of skilled specialists can recommend on the best polystyrene compactor to satisfy your needs, whether you deal with huge quantities of polystyrene waste or smaller quantities on an ad-hoc basis.

For more details, contact us today. And don't forget to inquire about GREENMAX's free Waste Saving Audit which can determine possibilities for you to cut costs and improve your carbon footprint.