EPS is the best transport material for shock absorption and thermal protection. The insulated EPS wine transport container protects the wine from damage and temperature fluctuations during transportation. While today, we have some difficulties during EPS recycling.

In 2022, 168.6 million pounds of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam transport and protective packaging was diverted from disposal in North America. This includes 61 million pounds from post-consumer sources, reflecting a 31% recycling rate in the region. The EPS Industry Alliance (EPS-IA) highlighted that EPS recycling is particularly successful in business-to-business systems and alternative channels such as store drop-offs, rather than traditional curbside programs.

The Foam Recycling Coalition (FRC) grants have significantly contributed to the growth of EPS recycling. Between 2019 and 2023, the amount of foam polystyrene collected for recycling from FRC-supported programs nearly doubled, rising from 841,000 to 1.6 million pounds. Additionally, the number of consumers with access to the FRC densifier grant program grew from four million to 12.4 million during the same period

Until recently, the main recycling of EPS has been concentrated in the industrial sector, and usually large factories like EPS manufacturers and some end users such as furniture stores and logistics companies, will pay attention to EPS recycling due to large foam accumulation. Fortunately, the FRC recently has allocated funds to manage residential roadside and drop-off recycling programs to extend EPS recycling to the individual consumer level.

The most direct method of EPS recycling in residential areas is the curbside recycling program, which places special EPS recycling bins on the side of the road, and there are even incentive recycling policies in some places.

As far as I know, East Gippsland Shire Council, which located in Australia began to recycle EPS waste, the council purchased a GREENMAX EPS densifier M-C50 form INTCO recycling and set up a number of collection units for local residents to drop their EPS waste.

Curbside recycling program is a great way to accumulate resources, because regenerated EPS is in high demand for frames, hangers, interiors, surfboards and other products. At present, the supply of recycled EPS cannot keep up with the demand, which requires us to strengthen the recycling of EPS foam.