Traxpo - Recycling Polystyrene (EPS) Services
Thousands of tonnes of EPS are recycled each year, so it is important to manage this process properly, understanding the facts so that everything runs smoothly in each step of the way.
Expanded polystyrene is a thermoplastic with the characteristic of only having 2% of plastic and 98% air. Due to its excellent set of properties including good thermal insulation, good damping as well as being extremely light weight, there has been a variety of end-use applications of EPS:
For packaging: as it is strong yet lightweight, it serves as an efficient insulator, and its structure protects products from impact damage. Therefore, EPS is very useful to transport cold chain products such as fish, wine, vaccines and other medicines.
Building and Construction: Since EPS foam is durable, strong and lightweight, it can be used to insulate panel systems for facades, walls, roofs and floors for the comfort of homes and buildings.
Finally, as it is easy to machine, it is possible to create plates, vaults, cylinders, figures, as well as acting sets.etc...
Despite of being harmless to human and inert in contact with water or air, the expanded polystyrene can take more than 1000 years to degrade. This implies a serious enviromental problem.
It is also important to point out that poor waste managment at an industrial/municipal level can cause significant logistics cost and high landfill rates for those who generate it, as it is very light and bulky plastic.