Norway’s first inter‑municipal EPS recycling solution has been launched by IVAR IKS under Norsirk’s producer responsibility scheme. By deploying a densifier locally, the waste company enables source-separated EPS collection across its service area—creating regional infrastructure for lightweight packaging recovery.
System introduction
IVAR IKS, responsible for waste management in several municipalities, installed an EPS densifier to compress clean foam packaging collected at municipal recycling stations. The initiative marks the first collective adoption of Norsirk’s EPS recycling model in Norway, aiming to streamline collection logistics and reduce transport volumes.
Households and businesses deliver clean EPS to designated drop-off points. At IVAR’s recycling center, the densifier compresses the foam into compact blocks—making further handling, storage, and transport more efficient. A photo shared in the original article shows a neatly stacked, compressed block of EPS, highlighting the density achieved through the press.
Once compressed, the EPS is sold and transported to qualified recycling facilities. While specific downstream partners were not named, the infrastructure setup supports eventual material recovery into new polystyrene products, consistent with closed-loop objectives.
Strategic relevance
This deployment demonstrates how EPS can be integrated into municipal recycling streams via local infrastructure investment. By compressing EPS at the source, IVAR IKS significantly reduces the volume footprint, enabling more frequent and cost‑effective transport to recycling facilities.
As Norsirk is the first EPR system in Norway to offer this solution, their collaboration with IVAR paves the way for other municipalities to adopt similar practices. The inter‑municipal scale increases efficiency and offers a replicable template for broader EPS recovery efforts across Norway.
Unlike one-off pilot projects, the densifier is permanently installed and positioned to grow with participation—the framework supports scaling as more communities join the collection system.
Conclusion
IVAR IKS’s adoption of Norsirk’s EPS densification solution marks a major milestone in Norwegian packaging recycling. By combining inter‑municipal collaboration, on‑site compression, and producer‑responsibility coordination, the system demonstrates how lightweight packaging like EPS can be effectively integrated into circular waste streams without compromising efficiency.
Source: “Første EPS‑løsning på plass i Norge,” Avfallsbransjen.no, 5 June 2020 — Avfallsbransjen.no (avfallsbransjen.no)
