EPS RECYCLING -
D
espite ongoing misperceptions about
its recyclability, EPS recycling is well
established and consistently maintains
one of the highest recycling rates among
all plastics. The 2013 EPS Recycling
Rate Report shows continuous growth as a result
of ongoing collection and processing technology
advancements and new market developments
for recycled EPS. The report shows more than
125 million pounds of EPS was recycled, which
includes all post-consumer, post-commercial and
industrial recovery. This information was collected
from 41 EPS manufacturers and independent
recyclers within the United States.
For more than 25 years local community
programs, in conjunction with recycling
initiatives from large companies that use EPS
packaging – such as Walmart, Omaha Steaks
®
and Nutrisystem
®
– have proven that creative and
collaborative solutions provide positive results.
The 2013 report touts an all-time high post-
consumer and post-commercial recycling rate of
34%. Industrial recovery decreased slightly from
56.9 million pounds in 2012 to 54.5 in 2013.
Increased consumer and corporate involvement is
key to maintaining a strong growth trend. While
EPS is often characterized as difficult to recycle,
the sharp increase in post-consumer and post-
commercial EPS recycling from 2012 to 2013
clearly demonstrates that active involvement from
the general public and small and large companies
can move the needle in the right direction.
Educating the public about EPS recycling and
the availability of recycling locations and special
collection events is an important factor in the
continued increase of the EPS recycling rate and
is one of the primary functions of EPS-IA. Via
increasingly popular social media outlets, EPS-IA
is able to increase awareness and participation in
EPS recycling efforts.
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2013
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
%
Recycled
0
10
20
60
70
80
1992 1990 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2013
30
40
50
Millions
of
Pounds
Recycled
Stronger
Than Ever
72.8
Post-Consumer
54.5
Post-Industrial
127.3
Total EPS Recycling
2013 Domestic EpS recycling
(millions of pounds)
Domestic post-Consumer EpS recycling
(1990-2013)
post-Consumer EpS recycling rate History
(1990-2013)
| SuStainability |
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