#6 Polystyrene, Styrofoam, and EPS
When talking about foam, these terms are synonomous…
Typically, when we say “Styrofoam”, we are actually referring to the technically correct form of foam called Expanded Polystyrene, or EPS for short. Expanded because of the inclusion of air in the manufacture of the polystyrene which gives it it’s light weight properties. Simply devised of a network of beads fused together to provide insulation, cushioning, and protection to a variety of applications.
EPS is everywhere. Our volume comes in directly from residents and businesses, as well as from municipalities that collect it on behalf of their community. From bulk packing block, to insulation panels…. coolers, to fish boxes… we densify it onsite by first crushing, then followed by a hot melt application to form a solid 55lb block. The densifying process simply removes the air from the material.
The process is simple. We do not take packing peanuts due to the fact there are a variety of different kinds and colors out there, and it only takes one to contaminate the melting process. We don’t take food containers because of the food contamination still left behind in them, which will also contaminate the melting process. Foreign colors and dirty material will, again, contaminate the process. The recycling process has to be clean and white for the end result to be accepted by manufacturers for manufacture of new products.
We use the GreenMax Mars M-C200 EPS Hot Melt Densifier from Intco Recycling at our faciltiy. It is reliable and has a relatively small footprint. Our technicians take pride in producing quality output from this machine! More information can be found here… GreenMax Machine
What can be made from recycled eps?
Picture Frames
Baseboard or Ceiling Molding
House or Building Insulation
Insulation Board Known as Extruded Polystyrene, or XPS
what forms do we not accept
Packing Peanuts
Food Containers
Colors Other than White
Dirty or Contaminated
XPS - Wallboard Insulation Foam, All Colors
