Recycling for Customers and the EPS Packaging Group is part of the British Plastics Federation EPS Packaging Group member, Rosslite Ltd, based near Plymouth, Devon, has cut its EPS waste going to landfill by 95% — and it is recycling used EPS from nearby businesses. Jonathan Watson, Development Manager, Rosslite explains:"We are reprocessing around half a tonne of used EPS packaging a day and we now employ someone full-time to do the work.
"Our first choice is to re-grind and reuse the EPS material in packaging. We have three silos giving us 14 cubic metres of storage space for our reground material. When those are filled the remainder is densified and sold to a recycler. Recycling of EPS started after some of Rosslite's customers asked the company to take back their used EPS and put it into new packaging for their own environmental credentials. Rosslite invested in the new machinery and equipment required and in the setting up process overcame the dust problems associated with re-grinding. "We can produce packs that are up to 35% re-grind by volume and we have eradicated the problem of dust blocking the core vents," says Watson. "It's been so successful that we are also taking in used EPS from a number of local manufacturers that import components in EPS and from photocopier retailers who install a photocopier, store the EPS and then bring us a truck load once a month."
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For the past 18 months, Rosslite has been recycling its customers' used EPS packaging. It does this by either regrinding the EPS and putting it back into new packaging or by densifying it and selling it to a recycler.
