Styrofoam, which is produced in large quantities, is often considered to be a disposable material. However, it can be reused many times over. Recycling polystyrene foam may also be profitable, but unfortunately, not for everyone. So what does the recycling of this raw material look like? Check it out!
Recycling polystyrene foam - why is it so important?
Reducing the excessive use of plastic in the mass production of goods is one of the greatest ecological challenges of the 21st century. A great contributor to synthetic waste is foamed polystyrene, commonly referred to as polystyrene. The high-temperature-welded granulate owes its popularity to properties such as heat retention, moisture resistance, plasticity and lightness.
The properties of polystyrene foam have led to its widespread use in many industries. As insulation for buildings, it serves for many years. However, this is not the case with polystyrene, which is used to provide disposable protection for transported items or as a box for food. For this reason, tonnes of such packaging end up in landfills all over the world.
Probably many people wonder whether polystyrene foam is recyclable. Yes, this material can be recycled and reused. This is very important because its natural biodegradation process can take a very long time. Depending on the storage conditions, it can take several years or even a million years.
How is polystyrene foam recycled?
Recycling polystyrene packaging involves getting rid of the air between the granules. Its content in the recycled product can be as high as 90%. The next processing step is to melt it back into its original form. In other words, the loose polystyrene granules are re-injected into the injection moulding machine to give a specific shape. In this way, new polystyrene products are created.
Another machine that prepares used polystyrene for recycling is the compactor. In the first stage, it removes the air accumulated between the granules. The remaining raw material then goes into the shredder. It cuts the polystyrene granules into dust. Finally, the material goes into the plasticiser. A high temperature prevails there, allowing the formation of a mass that can be used to re-create the granulate and form any object.
What is the difference between the two methods? The first works well for companies that collect their polystyrene waste. This allows them to create a new product straight away. The second method is used by recyclers for customers. They sell the polystyrene mass formed in the compactor to customers in various industries, who can use this to create the material they need, such as building insulation or packaging. 
What can be achieved by recycling polystyrene foam?
Recycling polystyrene foam is not only beneficial for the environment, but also for the economy. This is because the use of this raw material is very wide. Once processed, it can be turned into a fully valuable new product.
Styrofoam can be used, among other things, as a building material for filling walls and floors. It will also work well as new packaging for food. It can also be used to protect equipment transported in a cardboard box and as a partition for various kit items. InPost encourages its segregation by recommending the reuse of parcels.
Recycling polystyrene foam - is it worth it?
Recycling polystyrene foam is not very popular. The reason is the low profitability of its reprocessing. Foamed polystyrene is cheap to produce. Its disposal, on the other hand, is difficult. The high air content of the granulate means that it requires considerable storage space. In turn, little new raw material is produced once it has been disposed of.
However, the low profitability of recycling does not mean that no one can make money from it. The solution to the problem of how to use polystyrene waste is provided by specialised companies. This material can only be recycled profitably and sold to customers if recycling is carried out on a mass scale. Companies that use polystyrene also profit indirectly from this. Donating used polystyrene reduces the cost of storing it in warehouses.
Recycling polystyrene foam is a problem whose solution has not yet been found. The cheap production of this artificial material will continue to contribute to its mass production for a long time to come. It is to be hoped that a way will eventually be found to recycle it more profitably. If this does not work, only the state will be able to help, by offering entrepreneurs discounts or subsidies for the recycling of polystyrene foam. The most important thing, however, is that it is recycled, as this is a great benefit to nature.
