The EPS Industry Alliance, Crofton, Maryland, has released a new study that proves the viability of expanded polystyrene (EPS) recycling. The 2018 EPS Recycling Report shows overall growth in EPS recycling, even as recycling landscapes are changing, the EPS Industry Alliance reports in a news release.
Following a drop in 2017, the report indicates that there was a resurgence in EPS recycling in 2018, with more than 113 million pounds recycled. Numbers had previously dropped to 63 million in 2017, mainly due to U.S. facility closures and ongoing international market fluctuation, EPS Industry Alliance reports in a news release on its new study. The figures in the report show how postuse recycling increased, while postindustrial recycling nearly doubled from 2017.
In addition to U.S. EPS recycling numbers, the EPS Industry Alliance also collected EPS recycling data for the Canadian market. Topped at about 6.7 million kilograms (or 14.8 million pounds), the 2018 Canadian EPS Recycling Report highlights the highest amount of EPS recycled in Canada to date, EPS Industry Alliance reports. The report, which is now managed by the EPS Industry Alliance, breaks down the amount recycled into post-use and post-industrial recycling, at 2.8 million kilograms (6.2 million pounds) and 3.9 million kilograms (8.6 million pounds), respectively. When compared to the U.S., EPS is recycled at the same rate by population in Canada.
Additionally, the EPS Industry Alliance recently released a video, “We Want It Back,” to illustrate the industry’s focus on diverting EPS from the landfill in order to provide recycled feedstock to manufacturers.
Click here to read the 2018 EPS Recycling Report.