The ultimate purpose of recycling polystyrene waste (EPS or expanded polystyrene) is to reduce environmental impact, conserve resources, and promote sustainability. Recycling polystyrene waste serves several important purposes:
Resource Conservation: Polystyrene is made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. By recycling polystyrene waste, we can conserve these valuable resources and reduce the need for new virgin materials.
Energy Savings: The production of new polystyrene requires significant energy inputs. Recycling polystyrene waste consumes much less energy compared to producing it from raw materials, leading to energy savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Recycling polystyrene waste leads to lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to manufacturing new polystyrene, as it reduces the demand for petroleum extraction and processing.
By addressing the environmental challenges associated with polystyrene waste and embracing recycling, we move closer to a more sustainable and environmentally responsible approach to managing waste and natural resources. However, it’s essential to remember that effective recycling of polystyrene faces challenges such as collection, transportation, and market demand, which need to be addressed to maximize its positive impact. At present, Polystyrene transportation is no longer a problem because it can be compacted by a Polystyrene compactor. INTCO Recycling is a good example, they recycle Polystyrene all around the world.