Polystyrene collection expands in Canada

The city of Montreal and the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) have extended their polystyrene collection and recycling program in Montreal for an additional five years. The collection program, called “In search of number 6,” was able to collect 2.5 metric tons of polystyrene during the pilot test period between October 2013 and September 2014.

 

Along with extending the project for five years, the partners have added Granby, Quebec-based Polyform as a third partner in the program. In addition to being a manufacturer of sustainable products that use different grades of plastic scrap, the company also built and operates a recycling plant. 

Polyform will used the polystyrene collected through the program to manufacture a range of durable construction products, the partners say. 

 

“While the pilot succeeded in collecting 2.5 [metric tons] of polystyrene, the real success of the project is that we were able to establish the necessary collection and recycling infrastructure, including the partnership with Polyform that will allow the program to remain a valuable service at the LaSalle depot,” says Krista Friesen, vice president of sustainability at CPIA. “We are also interested in seeing this program model expand to other communities across Quebec.”

 

“The continuation of this innovative project is good news for Montreal residents,” says Réal Ménard, Montreal executive committee member responsible for sustainable development, environment, large parks and green spaces. "Through a remarkable collaboration between the city, CPIA and Polyform, significant amounts of polystyrene will be recycled and reused. I want to remind the citizens of the importance of properly recycling appropriate materials, and I invite them to take advantage of the numerous services offered by the city's ecocenters.”

 

François Beauchesne, Polyform vice president of sales and business development, says, “Polyform is proud to participate in this recycling program with Montreal and CPIA. Our recycling center can recycle millions of kilograms of plastics every year, including the polystyrene containers and packaging that we find regularly in the Montreal homes. These containers and packaging represent a source of recycled content that is useful when manufacturing new sustainable products.”

 

The collection program allows residents of Montreal to return polystyrene to the ecocenter if the material is clean and free of packaging, labels, absorbent pads and aluminum covers.