Foam Equipment's Blog

Styrofoam Recycling

There is a misconception that Styrofoam ^TM (Expandable PolyStyrene or EPS) is not recyclable and that is wrong.  EPS recycling is growing stronger every day.  Styrofoam ^TM or EPS is the number "6" recycling plastic and it must be reduced or compacted to make it feasible to ship to a plastics recycler.  It has become a coveted raw material for recyclers and they are discovering a wide range of markets for it.  

A full trailer load of loosely stacked EPS foam will only weigh approximately 2000 pounds.  After the foam is run through a compactor or densifier 40,000 pounds or more can go on that same trailer and now it is cost effective for shipping.  A screw compactor can take a 1 pound per cubic foot piece of Styrofoam and reduce the volume to as much as 20 pounds per cubic foot.  This compactor or densifier can also process other types of foam.

There needs to be bigger push for all types of recycling, Styrofoam included. It's plain and simple, recycling still costs more than landfilling in many locations - it's all about the cost. 

So how do we curb the landfilling?  Just like we do for alcohol, cigarettes and gambling, we create a sin tax that would increase the cost of landfilling.  This tax money is then used for recycling efforts: setting up recycling locations, paying workers and purchasing equipment, like the EPS compactor. 

Plastic Recycling Resin Identification Codes

In 1988 The Society of Plastics Industry (SPI) developed the Resin Identification Code (RIC) system.   The codes were developed to provide a consistent national system to help workers on sorting lines identify post-consumer bottles using the 6 basic packaging resin classes.  The RIC system was not intended to imply recyclability.  Soon after their introduction, 39 states mandated that bottles and containers be marked with the recycling plastic Codes to assist source segregation at households.  This practice introduced the general public to the existence of the Code.  States also insisted on having an "OTHER" category.  The publics misinterpretation of the Codes, particularly OTHER, has become a serious problem.  The 6 basic resin classes (recycling numbers) no longer suffice to meet the needs of recyclers, particularly with regard to new resins and multi-material construction.   In 2008, SPI asked ASTM to take ownership of the codes.  ASTM agreed and initiated work to convert from the RIC to the ASTM standard format and address various issues using the ASTM consensus's based process.  ASTM is composed of 32,000 volunteer members from over 125 countries: consumers, producers design professionals, researchers, and academia.  Anyone with interest can participate on the ASTM committees.

ASTM's main focus

• What to do about "7"
• What to do about the Chasing Arrows symbol?
• What defines "1", "2", "3", etc?
• How do we handle multi-material and multi-layer structures?
• Are new codes needed

Some information supplied from astm.org 

Plastics Recycling Conference 2010

I want to let everyone know that we are exhibiting again this year at the Plastics Recycling Conference 2010 which will be held in Austin TX.  The conference will take place on March 2nd and 3rd.  The conference will include a tradeshow.  We will have booth #304 and would love to have you stop in.  The conference sponsors expect a great turnout again this year.  There were a record number of exhibitors this year and all spaces have sold out.  This primary focus of this conference is recycling, not solid waste management.  This is one of the best conferences in North America to meet people interested in recycling plastics of all types.  

Conference Highlights:

• Plastic Recycling Markets
• Latest Processing Technology
• International Developments
• Legislation Update
• Biopolymers and Recycling
  

We would like to meet anyone interested in discussing recycling of EPS and Styrofoam plastics as well as PE, Ethafoam, EPE and EPP foams.  We are also interested in meeting anyone interested in purchasing these materials in a compressed or densified form.  

You can get more information on the conference at Plastics Recycling Conference 2010