Category: News

In mid‑2023, Auckland saw a new approach to household EPS recycling: Mitre 10’s Expol programme established community drop-off points—including at Mangawhai ITM—allowing residents to return clean EPS products like coffee cups, protective foam, surfboards, and appliance packaging (Tasman Golf Club). Previously, such items ended up in landfill or blew into waterways. After collection, Expol compacts or

Despite EPS’s light weight and high volume posing logistical challenges, Norway’s Plastretur system achieved strong outcomes in 2022—collecting 6 159 tonnes of EPS and reaching a material recycling rate of 80.5%. This sustained performance follows a record year in 2021, when 6 412 tonnes were recycled at 87.4% efficiency (Grønt Punkt Norge). Year-on-Year Trends From 2018 to 2022, Norway’s

In May 2023, Expanded Polystyrene Australia (EPSA) initiated StyroCycle—a nationwide take-back scheme in Victoria and South Australia. Partnering with manufacturers like Foamex and Polyfoam, StyroCycle offers free drop-off of clean EPS from households and small businesses, aiming to divert this material from landfill (ecovoice.com.au). Typical drop-off points include EPS production facilities, council sites, and retail

Norsk Gjenvinning and Plastretur AS have introduced a versatile, high-capacity compactor at their Oslo site to streamline EPS and XPS recycling across Eastern Norway. Designed for mobility, the “Shark Compactors” unit can process foam directly at large retailers, construction sites, or be rented for on-site deployment—integrating collection and material preparation in one step. How the

In Brazil, expanded polystyrene (EPS) — widely known by the brand name Isopor — has long been misunderstood: often excluded from formal recycling schemes, it was seen as a lightweight nuisance, destined for landfill despite its recyclability. But today, that perception is shifting. According to data published by O Globo and industry association Abiquim, Brazil

In September 2022, the City of Dublin (OH) launched a permanent 24/7 drop‑off system for clean EPS packaging and coolers at its City Service Center, partnering with neighboring Hilliard to process collected materials (dublinohiousa.gov). Dublin’s initiative aims to increase the city’s diversion rate—already at 48%—and reduce landfilled Styrofoam. Rather than sending bulky foam to landfill,

Efficient circularity for Norway’s expanded polystyrene (EPS) starts far from home. Through the coordinated efforts of Grønt Punkt Norge and Plastretur, EPS waste collected in Norway is now recycled into new insulation boards at Traxpo’s recycling facility near Barcelona. In 2021, the Norwegian system captured 6 412 tonnes of EPS. Of that, 589 tonnes were sent directly to

In Skive, Denmark, the municipal recycling centre installed an EPS densifier in 2020—a move that quickly proved financially sound. With support from EPS‑branchen and local stakeholders, the equipment paid for itself within 12 months through savings in transport and revenue from compressed EPS sales. Investment and payback dynamics Lightweight, bulky EPS often makes transport inefficient.