Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, commonly known as styrofoam, the ubiquitous lightweight material used in packaging of electronic devices, food items and electric appliances, is popularly used because of its water and heat resistant properties. These properties likewise make it a preferred material for disposable food containers such as bowls, plates and coffee cups.
Due to its popularity, the global demand for EPS and its production is steadily increasing. The increase in EPS production necessitates intensified recycling efforts. After all, a greater supply of EPS would result to more polystyrene waste, which, when disposed of in landfills take up significant space because of its bulk. Furthermore, because of its light weight, it can easily be blown away and litter streets and water bodies, and clog storm drains. Being non-compostable and essentially non-biodegradable, it would take hundreds if not thousands of years for EPS to decompose.
The technology to recycle polystyrene already exists and recyclers have been producing goods from recycled polystyrene for years. One of the reasons why polystyrene waste recycling is not very popular, even among recyclers, is the high cost associated with transporting the waste because of its volume to weight ratio. A truckload of EPS foam actually contains very little polystyrene, with 95-98% of its content being air.
The cost can be lowered considerably by reducing the volume of the waste, preferably at the point of origin, before transporting to recycling facilities. Volume reduction equipment offered in the market include balers, compactors and densifiers.