Yes, you can recycle expanded polystyrene!

Read this Guide to learn more about how you recycle expanded polystyrene, with waste management costs and the environment in mind.

Can you recycle expanded polystyrene?

Expanded polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam, is a material used primarily for insulation in roofs, walls and foundations to provide thermal protection. EPS foam is lightweight yet rigid and sturdy, being available for use in several compressive strengths that can withstand back-fill forces and different weight loads. Due to its structural condition, expanded polystyrene is also helpful against moisture damage, as the closed-cell structure allows both minimal water absorption as well as low levels of vapour permanence.

Benefits and manufacturing

There are several benefits of using EPS foam as an insulation material, which has made it one of the most common choices for those looking to refurbish their homes. Among them are:

Energy efficiency
Higher thermal resistance
Durability
Fully measurable energy saving
Lower costs
Maintaining a cleaner environment since the material doesn’t hinder bacteria growth
Chemical inertness, which increases biocompatibility

The manufacturing process includes two main stages, the merging of pre-puff beads into a block via steaming, followed by storing these blocks for an appropriate length of time until they are ready to be cut into various sizes or shapes.

Environmental concerns

Over the past years, there have been growing concerns regarding the sustainability of all processes and procedures that are performed daily and which power everyday activities. Most of these actions are so inconspicuous that it can be difficult to think about them from an environmental perspective. However, it is very important to do so, as the large amounts of raw materials, fuels, water and energy necessary to create the objects we use day-to-day deplete natural resources and can be quite detrimental to the environment.

As such, the materials used must be as environmentally friendly as possible, must not contain exceedingly harmful substances, and are either sturdy enough to allow repeated usage or easily recyclable so that their disposal won’t result in additional emissions.

Expanded polystyrene meets these requirements as it doesn’t contain the ozone-depleting CFCs and HCFCs. It is a green product made of 98% air. EPS foam remains stable and doesn’t degrade. During manufacture, water is reused, making the overall consumption levels quite low.

Recycling

The best news is that it is also fully recyclable. Currently, in the UK, there are thousands of tonnes that get recycled every year. The supply chain is designed so that recycling is usually an integral part of all points of the process, way before the final consumer use. Expanded polystyrene needs to be compacted before it can be repurposed, similar to all other types of plastic. Since it is a resistant material used for heavy-duty purposes, it takes a long time to biodegrade naturally. Recycling means that, instead of going into a landfill, EPS foam can be repurposed and used repeatedly to create a wide array of household objects, including containers, coat hangers, roofing tiles, packaging and outdoor furniture pieces.

It can also be mixed with other materials, such as concrete, in order to create prefabricated blocks. Combined with compost or soil, it is useful in promoting adequate aeration levels, which reduces compaction, allowing plants to grow. EPS foam can also be blended with plastic to create interior trim. The material has become valuable in the construction industry, as, in its recycled state, it can be used to insulate concrete forms, helping to improve sustainability practices.

Expanded polystyrene waste is easy to recycle – you could use a Mil-tek EPS 2000 compactor. It is important to dispose of it this way to give it new life and allow objects to be created with a lower carbon footprint.

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