In Aabenraa, Denmark, electronics store Elsalg has turned routine waste into circular opportunity. Since purchasing a compactor in 2015 to reduce EPS (“flamingo”) storage volume, the business struggled to find a recycling outlet—compacted EPS would typically end up incinerated. That changed in early 2022 thanks to a chance connection with a local reuse centre and a transport provider, who began accepting and paying for compacted EPS by the tonne.
Transition from storage to recycling
Store owner Thomas Weiskvist describes how compacting EPS wasn’t enough: “It was silly to waste recyclable material,” he told EPS‑Airpop. Once the compactor was installed in 2015, clean industrial-grade EPS from unpacked goods was densified to consolidate storage. However, outlets to recycling streams were lacking until a delivery driver informed him of a reuse centre accepting and processing compacted EPS.
With this new route, Thomas can now send compacted flamingo for recycling—and he’s even compensated per tonne collected. “It’s almost become a game,” he said, noting that the store now retrieves EPS from every delivery before they leave by pallet.
System mechanics
- Compaction: Clean EPS packaging is compacted using an on-site press.
- Collection: A reuse centre picks up pallets of compressed EPS via a local transport provider.
- Incentive: Elsalg receives payment per tonne delivered.
- Recycling: Collected EPS enters established recycling streams.
This simple logistical setup turned a storage necessity into a circular model—and created value for a small business.
Strategic relevance
This case shows that compactors—combined with access to collection routes and financial incentives—can integrate small-scale retailers into EPS recycling frameworks. The model is low-threshold: if compaction is already in place, just one access point can unlock participation and traceability, even where volumes are modest.
When combined with producer responsibility systems and industrial compaction, this approach supports broader material recovery while reducing waste incineration. It highlights a scalable strategy to bring isolated EPS sources—such as small retailers—into national recycling networks.
Conclusion
Elsalg Aabenraa’s transition from compaction without reuse to fully integrated EPS recycling underscores the importance of connection points: where equipment, logistics, and economics align at small scales. The model offers a replicable pathway—electronic stores across Denmark and Europe can similarly transform routine packaging waste into circular value.
