The phrase “ashes to ashes, dust to dust” frequently estimated at funerals advises us that eventually also our very own bodies will ultimately disintegrate, like almost whatever else on Earth– nevertheless, there are some notable exceptions. One of these is expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, generally known as styrofoam, which can take countless years to come apart in the airless, lightless setting of a land fill– a staggeringly long time! Even when it does obtain direct exposure to the sunlight and also wind, it never truly completely breaks down. Indeed, each of us can contribute to construct a detailed styrofoam recycling value chain in our home town.
Andy Li, a member of the post-80s generation, started the Missing out on Link-Polyfoam Recycling Scheme (Missing Link) in 2015 with the support of the Environment and Preservation Fund. The aims of this government-funded platform run by the Hong Kong Association of Youth Development (Tsuen Wan District Branch) are to establish fully grown collection as well as downstream recycling networks for styrofoam, reduce useful sources being disposed of in landfills and also advertise local polystyrene recycling with in the area. Andy wants to fix the false impression regarding the recyclability of styrofoam, and educate the community that styrofoam– once processed as well as upcycled– can really be changed right into products with great resale worth.
80 tonnes of styrofoam waste taken care of at land fills daily
Under the leadership of Andy, as well as with the passionate assistance from a team of 12, including three full-time staff as well as 9 part-time personnel and also volunteers, Missing Web link has actually broadened promptly in the past 6 years. Today it has two styrofoam condensing devices in its greater than 2,000-square-foot plant in Tsuen Wan. However, regardless of Andy’s determined efforts in fighting for even more resources, the everyday capacity of this non-profit-making organisation is only about 800 kgs (kg) to 1,000 kg, which is very little as contrasted to the 80,000 kg of styrofoam disposed of day-to-day at land fills throughout Hong Kong.
Upcycling styrofoam into plastic pellets for export
While Missing out on Web link has actually not had the ability to single-handedly refine the considerably increased amount of styrofoam boxes considering that the pandemic episode, Andy has referred some downstream recyclers to fresh market operators with the hope of producing extra channels to handle the frustrating amount of styrofoam boxes to keep them out of land fills. Among these, Kingway Development HK Limited, utilized to refine water-filled barriers as well as plastic helmets along with styrofoam boxes, has actually committed more resources and boosted workforce to styrofoam box recycling to help meet the surging need from fresh market drivers, including Web link.
” The recycling quantity in three of our plants covering Yuen Long, Sheung Shui and also Tuen Mun has significantly boosted from about 1,000 kg each day prior to the pandemic break out to 6,000 kg per day today,” stated Ken Fok, Supervisor of Kingway Advancement. “Not only press the styrofoam boxes, however we likewise upcycle them right into plastic pellets that follow international requirements for export. These pellets are excellent for end-of-use manufacturing, including points like electrical accessories, injection moulding, trash can and also composite lumber.”