Category: NEPSA Updates

How hidden EPS systems are scaling recovery behind the scenesIn 2022, North American recyclers diverted a record 168.6 million pounds of EPS transport and protective packaging from disposal—up from 136.8 million in 2019—achieving an estimated 31% recycling rate across the region (wastedive.com). Notably, 61 million pounds were sourced from post-consumer material, marking a significant expansion

The story: EPS collection becomes compact and circularDenmark has rolled out a practical system to collect and process clean expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging and insulation at designated recycling centres across the country. In mid‑2024, facilities began using high-capacity green EPS compactors (e.g., from GREENMAX), compressing foam to 1/50 its original volume on-site. The result: bulky

On 24 June 2024, the African Polystyrene Industry Alliance (APIA) announced a coordinated set of initiatives to recover expanded polystyrene (EPS) used in South Africa’s agricultural and nursery sectors. The program targets seedling trays and agri-foam, two applications where EPS remains widespread due to its insulating and moisture-resistant properties. The goal: build a working recovery

On 31 May 2024, BEWI ASA officially opened a new EPS recycling and extrusion hub in Norrköping, Sweden. The site, formerly an insulation factory, has been converted into a dedicated circular facility — purpose-built to handle large volumes of used expanded polystyrene (EPS) from the packaging and construction sectors. The new hub increases BEWI’s total

On 24 April 2024, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) formally recognised Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) transport packaging — such as fish boxes and protective packaging — as a format that is “recyclable at scale.” This distinction appears in UNEP’s updated plastic pollution science report, prepared ahead of the INC‑4 global plastics treaty negotiations. (climate.co.ke) UNEP

In March 2024, the Electronic Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA) confirmed that a 31% post-consumer recycling rate for polystyrene had been achieved for the 2022/2023 reporting year. This milestone formally qualifies polystyrene — including expanded polystyrene (EPS) — for recyclable status under South Africa’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulation. The result was verified and

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) remains a subject of debate in packaging and environmental policy. But beneath the headlines, a more nuanced picture emerges—one built on long-term infrastructure, verified recyclability, and measured environmental data. In an extended interview with PackMarkedføring, Chresten Heide-Andersen of EPS-branchen outlined where public perception diverges from documented practice, and why overlooking EPS may

In late December 2019, Middletown (Monmouth County, NJ) became the first municipality in the state to acquire a Foam Cycle EPS densifier, enabling residents from Middletown and surrounding towns to drop off clean expanded polystyrene (EPS) at two permanent collection points: the Middletown Recycling Center and the Train Station drop-off (Patch). Rather than paying per-ton