Yes, polystyrene is recyclable! While polystyrene recycling is not as popular as recycling glass, paper, disposed batteries or aluminium cans, there are recycling initiatives that recognise its importance. Here are some ways to recycle polystyrene.
- EPS is 100% recyclable to make new products
Polystyrene materials can be reprocessed and moulded into new products. Discarded EPS material and used packaging can be collected and taken for grinding down or melting to manufacture products in other plastic processing industries.
According to the Polystyrene Packaging Council PSPC, polystyrene can be recycled up to 20 times without physical damage! The benefits of using recyclable EPS instead of new raw material leads to reduced littering, lower energy consumption, and better use of resources.
- EPS can be used as lightweight aggregate and replacement
EPS recycled material can be mixed with soil for composting or concrete and insulating mortars for the building industry. No scrap goes to waste. Reprocessing EPS packaging and other products results in new or existing uses without energy recovery. Recycled EPS also provides a suitable replacement for different materials such as hardwood.
Isowall recycles EPS responsibly. For example, Hebcooler – a range of EPS Cups and Tubs under the Isolite brand – is 100% recyclable. The scrap from the manufacturing of Hebcooler EPS Cups and Tubs and any returned polystyrene are used to make Isowood dado rails and skirting boards.
Isowall is a member of the Polystyrene Association of South Africa, which represents the major players in the local polystyrene manufacturing industry. Polystyrene SA actively assists in finding end-markets for using recycled polystyrene. For more info, visit www.polystyrenesa.co.za.
If you are conscious about your environmental impact and would like to find a place to drop off your waste, please follow this link: http://mywaste.co.za/web/index.asp.
Recycling has never been this easy – choose your waste material, radius and location and then go to the certified location to recycle your waste!
Isowall Group has been certified as complying with ISO 14001:2015 environmental and ISO 9001:2015 quality standards.
Isowall is the supplier of choice within Africa for Insulated Sandwich Panel, EPS and EPP products. Contact us for more information.