Expanded polystyrene (EPS) concrete (also known as EPS concrete or lightweight concrete) is a lightweight, low strength material with good energy absorption. It also has a high degree of insulation that creates a stone-like surface for creative projects.
It is a popular material used in environmentally friendly “green” homes. It has been used as road cushion, soil or geological stabilization project, and as a secondary to railway tracks. People can add polystyrene beads to Portland cement and create lightweight concrete at home. The mixing proportion of cement to polystyrene is one to six. For instance, you have a cup of Portland cement, mix it with 6 cups of polystyrene beads plus a glass of water and a cup of sand.
We can see that more polystyrene beads is needed in the process of making EPS concrete. These expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads are very light with a density of 0.03g/cm3 which are easily blown away by the wind without any shelter. As a result, discard polystyrene beads are very harmful to the environment as they are difficult to be decomposed by the microorganisms in soil and water. Therefore, the disposal of waste polystyrene beads is of great importance.
First of all, clean foam beads can be sold to fill the bean bag chairs and pillows.
Another, clean white beads also can be collected to make similar materials like slap-up packaging materials, EPS insulation and so on as they can be melt easily to form new shapes by machine.
Last but not least, recycling is a better way for large foam beads with slight impurities. The polystyrene shredder can compress them into smaller volume as a ratio of 50:1. And the compacted foam is hard and more easily to package, store in warehouse and transport by truck. Also, the polystyrene shredder GREENMAX APOLO series can cut big polystyrene beads into small pieces.
The compacted foam is not an end product. It is not garbage, but a treasure which can be sold out to make new items like pellets, moldings and photo frames around the world.
Here’s hoping that people have a long sight in disposing waste expanded polystyrene beads to achieve circular economic and sustainable development.