Households and small businesses now have an option to dispose of expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging waste to be recycled in Australia with the launch of a new recycling scheme called StyroCycle.
StyroCycle is an initiative of Expanded Polystyrene Australia (EPSA) and will see clean EPS recycled and used to manufacture new products like building insulation.
The new initiative is run by EPSA members who are manufacturers of EPS and will focus on EPS for packaging.
StyroCycle came about from members of the industry who are committed to the National Recycling Targets, and who were seeking an accessible solution for recycling EPS, given there are currently no council or government-backed kerbside schemes for it.
“We are committed to reducing the amount of EPS waste sent to landfill to zero. We do this by increasing awareness and strengthening partnerships at the community level to encourage a circular economy in our production practices,” said Simon Pickett, president of EPSA.
“At StyroCycle, we aim to operate an effective and efficient circular economy where EPS is 100 per cent recyclable and can be easily recycled repeatedly.
“Through the establishment of collection facilities at EPS manufacturing points, local councils, and other businesses across Australia, we will collect, compress and reuse EPS to create products for sustainable building. We also provide a free-drop service for large quantities (up to 20 cubic metres) of clean EPS.
“This closed loop system will benefit our natural resources, minimise waste, lower CO2 emissions, and lower water use.”
EPS manufacturers like Foamex and Polyfoam have already been recycling EPS for decades, and over time, these manufacturers have invested in modern EPS machinery and processes, which they say have greatly increased the efficiency of EPS recycling.
The machines combine the function of crushing, compacting and pelletising into one step, reducing manual labour.
StyroCycle is specifically focusing on the polystyrene packaging that is generated within a household or small businesses, like electrical appliance packaging and can be dropped off to the EPS manufacturers.
One advantage of the scheme is that waste is not transported elsewhere and warehoused, it is not even stored on premises for a long period, nor is it exported. Typically, bins are filled and emptied daily so waste is dealt with quickly and put back into the manufacturing stream.
All contaminated EPS can be recycled, including:
- Packaging for small and large appliances (like big screen TVs, dishwashers and oven packaging);
- White polystyrene fruit and vegetable boxes (clean boxes only – all organic material and labels must be removed before recycling);
- Uncontaminated (mud and concrete-free) EPS from building and construction sites; and
- Bean bag beans.
So far, StyroCycle has two manufacturers with four sites up and running in Victoria and South Australia.
The scheme anticipates more manufacturers/recyclers to come on board with at least an additional eight more sites across Victoria. NSW, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania by 2024.
StyroCycle is also working with other organisations that have the potential to become drop-off points like councils, waste transfer stations, and small businesses with high volume EPS waste like furniture and electrical importers and retailers.
