Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, typically called Styrofoam, the common lightweight material used in the packaging of electronic devices, food things, and also electric devices, is popularly used because of its water and also heat resistant properties. These properties make it a preferred material for single-use food containers such as bowls, plates, and coffee cups.

Due to its popularity, the world demand for EPS foam is steadily raising. According to GBI Research, the world demand for both polystyrene and EPS increased to 14.9 million tons in 2010 from 13 million tons in 2000. This is expected to further swell to 25 million tons by 2022, 2.7% of which, or near 800,000 tons originating from Australia.

The increase in EPS production requires intensified recycling initiatives. After all, a greater supply of EPS would certainly result in even more polystyrene waste, when disposed of in landfills occupies a significant area because of its bulk. Additionally, because of its lightweight, it can easily be blown away and clog storm drains. Being non-compostable and also essentially non-biodegradable, it would certainly take hundreds of years for EPS to disintegrate.

The technology to recycle polystyrene already exists as well as recyclers have actually been producing items from recycled polystyrene for years. One of the reasons that polystyrene waste recycling is not popular, even amongst recyclers, is the high price related to transporting the waste. A truckload of EPS foam consists of very little weight polystyrene, with 95-98% of its content being air.

The cost can be lowered considerably by reducing the volume of the waste, preferably at the point of origin, before transporting it to recycling facilities. Volume reduction equipment offered in the market compactors, densifiers, and hydraulic compactors. The main differences in their processes are as follows:

1. Hydraulic compactor

Integrating the benefits of standard polystyrene screw compactor and also hot melting machines. Equipped with high-efficient automated hydraulic system, the waste polystyrene is crushed and after that moved right into a storage bin of the GREENMAX Heracles Series polystyrene Compactor via a screw and then compressed right into dense and uniform blocks with a volume reduction proportion of 70:1, reducing the volume of waste polystyrene, as a result saving storage space and also transportation prices.

2. Cold compact

The volume of EPS is reduced without heat. EPS waste is fed to a pre-breaker where it is broken into flakes of approximately 1 to 2 inches in dimension. Using a screw compactor, it is then compressed hydraulically into blocks, achieving a reduction in the volume of as much as 98%. The compressed polystyrene can be changed into pellets.

3. Thermal densification

Thermal densifiers such as GREENMAX use heat to melt EPS.  This process gets a higher compaction rate than many hydraulic or screw compactors. However, the concern of the release of vapors in the workplace and also the smell created once EPS is heated. Most manufacturers solve this by installing air filters on the machines.

For companies, organizations, or communities that dispose of large quantities of EPS yearly, purchasing an EPS recycling machine could be a worthwhile investment. With reduced volume, reducing labor, and transportation costs. As the oil costs and also demand for recycled polystyrene products increase, so does the price for compacted EPS.

Although the prices may vary depending upon the quality, compressed EPS could sell at US$ 530 per ton, with some recyclers going to pay more for large quantities. Some recycling equipment suppliers also buy compressed product for a competitive price, relieving the requirement to find a different recycler to deal with.

Being thermoplastic, pressed polystyrene can be melted as well as remolded to different plastic products, recyclers are discovering innovative methods to do just that. It has actually been made into CD cases, coat hangers, image frames, toys, as well as office supplies such as pens and stapler bodies.

Recycling polystyrene definitely shows great promise, as well as even more ways of using recycled polystyrene, will likely be discovered in the future. The guarantee of greater profit, as well as cleaner earth, will motivate companies, organizations, and also governments to step up polystyrene recycling efforts.

If you also want to recycle EPS, but there is no suitable recycling solution, please contact us immediately, GREENMAX Australia is committed to providing professional EPS recycling solutions.