EPS Recycling Forges Ahead in 2000 Last year 4,500 tonnes of expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging were recycled. This recycling rate of nearly 15 per cent of the total 31,000 tonnes of EPS Packaging produced in the UK, gives expanded polystyrene packaging one of the highest recycling rates for any plastic in the UK. "This is a significant increase on the 3,000 tons recycled in 1999 — around 10 percent of the 30,000 tons of EPS packaging produced," says Andrews Barnetson, Environmental Affairs Manager of the EPS Packaging Group. "The growth is largely due to interest in wood replacement products and the increase in the virgin price which has made the market for recycled EPS packaging economically viable." "We act as a contact point for companies looking for EPS recyclers. Currently we average around 10 enquiries a month, which shows a healthy interest in recycling EPS packaging. As the demand for EPS recyclate grows we can expect the competition to increase — and that can only be good for the waste holders of EPS packaging," continues Barnetson. Over the past two years 7,500 tons of EPS packaging have been kept out of landfill and a valuable resource has usefully recycled back into the economy. The EPS Packaging Group has played a key role in bringing this about: "We welcome this increase and the Group will continue to work to increase the recycling of EPS packaging in 2001" concludes Andrew Barnetson.
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In addition, the EPS Packaging Group, which represents the UK EPS Packaging Industry, has been working hard to both develop recycling processes and to raise awareness about the potential benefits of recycling EPS packaging. The Group runs an information programme and organises seminars to bring waste holders and recyclers together and present case studies of successful EPS recycling projects.
