How is expanded polystyrene recyclable?

You might not like to keep the useless materials around you or not have enough space to keep useless items around you. If you are looking to get rid of polystyrene, you should check that is expanded polystyrene recyclable. Everyone knows that recycling glass, cardboard, and paper is possible, however, most people are not well aware of how to dispose of expanded polystyrene. Contrary to your imagination, there are lots of different items made of polystyrene that turn into waste every day. Therefore, people will ask themselves can polystyrene go in recycling bin or can polystyrene be recycled in blue bin? Follow us in the rest of this article to get more information regarding the issue.

To know that is expanded polystyrene recyclable; we need to know the components of this material. As a chemical product, polystyrene is created from monomer styrene. Thus, it is a synthetic chemical. The compound is transparent mostly; however, it can be colored, too. Both forms of solid and foam are available based on the companies’ needs. As a common and popular type of plastic, polystyrene is widely used in industries and everyday life of people. Most of the packaging and the food containers are made of polystyrene. However, it is also the main ingredient for making toys, appliances, electronics, and other products. Polystyrene is divided into two groups as follows:

• Expanded polystyrene (EPS)
• Extruded polystyrene (XPS)

The answer to the question is expanded polystyrene recyclable is yes. However, recycling polystyrene depends on different materials such as the following items.

• Type of polystyrene
• Condition and use of the item
• The way you get rid of them

Although the above items are very important in the complex process of recycling polystyrene, not all types are recyclable. Both XPS and EPS polystyrene foam are recyclable, though a few councils accept household EPS for recycling. Therefore, you should check whether it is possible in your district. Industries can transport their polystyrene waste to recycling facilities. In such facilities, polystyrene is cleaned, sorted, and recycled.

To answer how to dispose of polystyrene, you need to know whether your wastes are included in the recyclable type of polystyrene or not. If your polystyrene wastes are not recyclable, you should throw them in the general waste. However, if your company’s wastes are considered recyclable wastes, then you can throw them in the recycling bin for plastics. So, if your factory produces expanded polystyrene, you can add special bins for collecting them.

As we discussed about is expanded polystyrene recyclable, if your polystyrene wastes are included in those types that are recyclable, then they can go in recycling bin. However, it is the local council of your area is responsible for deciding between general bins and recycling ones for recycling polystyrene waste. Therefore, you need to check the issue with your local council.

To know how to dispose of expanded polystyrene at home, you need to choose a specific bin for items that are made of polystyrene. Dividing the waste into recyclable and non-recyclable items is the best way to save the environment and keep it clean.

Is expanded polystyrene recyclable or not? All of us are well aware that recycling polystyrene is better than sending it to the landfill. However, recycling is better when we reproduce new items from the old polystyrene. Generally, recycled polystyrene is used to produce the following items.

• The polystyrene waste can be used to produce new toys such as cars, doll houses, and robots.
• Polystyrene food trays are the best choice for an artist’s canvas or paint palette. They are easily washed and reused.
• In the gardening industry, the cups made of polystyrene are the best choice for planting. They just need some holes at the bottom for drainage.
• Packing peanuts (foam peanuts) are the best things to stuff pillows, toys, and beanbag chairs. They are also great items to fill the empty space of the box for increasing the safety of the items in it.

Is expanded polystyrene recyclable or not would be understandable when we learn that it is one of the best substances for producing packaging pockets. One of the reasons that make it distinguished is the lightness of this component. In other words, the packaging made of polystyrene does not add extra weight to the products. However, the substance is strong when it is compressed and it absorbs the shock due to any drop or knock. Besides, polystyrene is not an expensive product in comparison to packaging products like timber, straw, or cork. That is why it is a cost-efficient product for industries.

1. How should you get rid of polystyrene?

Is expanded polystyrene recyclable depends on whether you want to dispose it from your industry or at home. All of the companies should have a separate recycle bin for polystyrene waste so that they can get rid of it legally and safely. However, getting rid of polystyrene at home depends on the local authority.

2. Is polystyrene biodegradable?

Although polystyrene is biodegradable, it takes a long time to decompose. To decompose, it should be heated enough in the sun. However, the latter is not possible since they are piled up in landfills and are not exposed to heat. Therefore, we can say that it is not biodegradable in practice.

3. How do you recycle polystyrene?

The answer to is expanded polystyrene recyclable is yes. There are three different ways for recycling polystyrene. In compacting method, a dense amount of polystyrene is pressed through a compactor to form a thick and heavy bale of polystyrene. Then such bales are used for general purposes. In granulation method, the light density of polystyrene can become granules through a granulator. Before applying densifying method, you need to know whether it is expanded polystyrene recyclable or not. If it is recyclable, then through a foam densifier it can become a pure polystyrene block.