Polystyrene recycling in the United States is not enough to deal with the pollution crisis

The Guardian reported on July 3 that a new analysis by global risk consulting firm Verisk Maplecroft showed that the United States only accounts for 4% of the global population, but it produces 12% of the world’s municipal solid waste.

At the same time, the US waste recycling rate is far lower than that of other developed countries, and it is the only developed country that produces more waste than its recycling capacity.

This situation can be attributed to the fact that the United States relied on the export of polystyrene waste to developing countries, resulting in a weaker development of its recycling industry. Until now, there have been only four states that have allowed polystyrene waste to be thrown into roadside recycling bins, including California.

California’s municipal choices work with recyclers to collect polystyrene waste from municipalities and hand it over to recyclers. These professional recyclers handle polystyrene that typically use GREENMAX’s specialty polystyrene recycling machines, like the polystyrene compactor A-C200.

This machine can significantly reduce the cost of polystyrene recycling, using screw technology to suppress the air content of polystyrene waste, know that the air content in polystyrene is about 98%.

The polystyrene that is squeezed out of the air turns into a recycled polystyrene ingot that can be sold as a commodity. Recycled polystyrene ingots are widely needed in manufacturing industries such as wood-like materials and frame industries.