Many are not aware expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging is recyclable – and is being recycled successfully by businesses and consumers across the United States. The 2010 Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Packaging Recycling Rate Study (the “Rate Study”) was conducted by the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers (AFPR). To better track EPS recycling trends AFPR gathers data to reflect both post-commercial and post-residential collection streams. The results reflect a modest increase in the number of postconsumer pounds recycled in 2010 years based on data received from fifty-eight EPS manufacturers and independent recyclers in twenty states. Read the Entire 2010 Recycling Rate Report.As reflected in Table 1, more than 71 million pounds of EPS was recycled during calendar year 2010. This figure includes 31.7 million pounds of post-commercial packaging, 5.4 million pounds of post-consumer packaging and 34.2 million pounds of post-industrial recovery. Post-commercial and post-consumer recycling are defined as any material that is recycled after its intended end-use. Post-industrial recovery includes EPS facility scrap that is recycled but never served its intended end-use as a packaging material. Marking twenty years, EPS recycling has reached some level of maturity demonstrating a stable baseline, incremental growth and steady end-use market developments. Some companies are choosing to promote and support EPS recycling through shared responsibility within the supply chain. Walmart has created a closed-loop EPS recycling strategy that takes the collected material and uses it to create recycled picture frames. Several pharmaceutical companies have implemented pre-paid return shipping recycling programs for EPS biomedical coolers. Through this integrated approach – with everyone doing their part – increased recycling is achievable. As compared to the 2008 Rate Study, 2010 demonstrates incremental growth in the amount of post-consumer recycling. This is supported by a steadfast reliance on high volume sources and proves the success of industry recycling efforts in the United States. Advances in EPS recycling technology, collaborative collection programs and new end-use markets have continued to broaden EPS recycling opportunities. In addition, the EPS industry fosters ongoing development of new and innovative recycling technologies that will promote further EPS recycling growth. These include recycled content resin and unique volume reduction technologies that are showing great potential.Read the Entire 2010 Recycling Rate Report.
