EPS Recycling

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) transport packaging is an excellent material for recycling. Post-consumer and post-commercial EPS is currently being recycled at an average annual rate of 10-12%. In 1991, AFPR assisted in developing a nationwide infrastructure to help facilitate the collection and recycling of EPS packaging. This has been achieved through the participation and commitment of AFPR members, the North American manufacturers of EPS transport packaging.

EPS can be identified by the # 6 plastic resin identification code. Many types of foam plastic are not clearly marked. If you have questions please contact AFPR at (410) 451-8340 for clarification.

Consumer Access

Numerous AFPR members and some recycling businesses do collect EPS for recycling. However, because of challenging transportation logistics and high contamination rates, there are a limited number of community-based collection programs that accept EPS. AFPR has created a unique mail-back option that allows virtually anyone with smaller quantities of foam packaging access to EPS recycling. If there is no collection site in your area, please consider the EPS National Mail-Back Program outlined below.

EPS RECYCLING DROP OFF LOCATIONS (PDF) – Programs May NOT Exist In Your Area

The majority of EPS recycling locations listed are intended to serve as outlets for EPS packaging only. Each EPS collection site has distinct criteria regarding the types of material they accept. Foodservice EPS materials are usually NOT accepted. To make sure you have a successful EPS recycling experience, we recommend the following:

1.      Once you have identified the closest collection site, call for drop-off times and check to see what types of polystyrene material they accept.

2.      Make sure your EPS is clean and free of any tape, plastic film, labels, loose parts or glued-on cardboard. Empty any coolers or other EPS cartons since food or medical waste is prohibited.

3.      Check to see if they accept other recyclables to streamline your recycling efforts.

EPS NATIONAL MAIL-BACK LOCATIONS (PDF)

If there is no EPS recycling in your community, please send it via the U.S. Postal Service or other carrier to the nearest mail-back location. Average shipping fees range from $1.50-$9.00 based on the total packaging weight and volume. Since expanded polystyrene is extremely light weight (98% air) it can be economically shipped to a regional location. Considering that the average car gets approximately 15-20 miles per gallon (mpg) at $3.50 to $4.00 per gallon, the postage cost to return EPS for recycling is often an economical – and more environmental – choice depending on the distance covered to reach the closest community drop-off location if they accepted EPS.

To maximize your EPS recycling efforts via the mail-back option, we recommend the following:

1.      Make sure the EPS is clean and free of any tape, plastic film, labels, loose parts or glued-on cardboard. Do not return any film plastics, food or medical waste or trash.

2.      Increase the amount of EPS in each shipping container by breaking or cutting it into small pieces so that more can fit in a box.

3.      When shipping EPS biomedical coolers, completely empty the cooler.  Tape the top and bottom pieces together with packing tape and apply the label and postage directly to the cooler. An outer box is not necessary.

4.      AFPR does not accept meat trays, cups, egg cartons or other disposable foodservice items for recycling.

5.      Prepare a shipping label and affix postage for delivery to the nearest mail-back location.

6.      To facilitate shipping from home, the United States Postal Service (USPS) provides numerous options for printing labels and /or postage using online resources. This convenience also allows you to have the shipment picked up by your local carrier as outbound mail and further minimizes environmental impacts.

    Commercial Sources

Working with their customers and other commercial EPS waste generators in their region, AFPR members are able to facilitate economically viable recycling programs through the development of consistent and reliable sources of post-commercial and post-industrial EPS waste. These efforts are typically focused on high-volume collection streams. Although there are numerous end-use markets, the majority of EPS collected for recycling is used in making new EPS foam products or re-pelletized and remanufactured into rigid, durable products such as plastic lumber and molding trim.

EPS recycling businesses are able to accept one-time shipments (packaging from new computers from a school district for example) as well as repeat, high-volume deliveries. Often recyclers will set up contractual arrangements with high-volume sources of EPS. If you have either one-time or consistent large quantities of EPS for recycling, the AFPR Recycling Manual and the list of large volume recyclers below are helpful resources.

NATIONAL LARGE VOLUME RECYCLERS (PDF)
If you have large volume quantities of ARCEL, fire retardant or colored EPS for recycling, please call AFPR at (410) 451-8340.

Polystyrene Loose Fill ‘Peanuts’

For loose fill packaging (packing peanuts) reuse and recycling information visit the Plastic Loose Fill Council (PLFC) or call the Peanut Hotline at (800) 828-2214, a toll-free, automated 24-hour service that provides callers with the location of the nearest site that accepts loose fill packaging for reuse.

Other Plastics

For information about other recycling opportunities, including polystyrene foodservice, rigid durable goods and other plastics, please check the U.S. and Canadian Recycled Plastic Markets Database

Recycled Plastic Markets Database

The information contained herein is subject to change and is provided without any express or implied warranty as to its truthfulness or accuracy. The Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers does not endorse the products or processes of any individual manufacturer or recycler.