Tesco Ireland aims to recycle more Styrofoam waste by putting Styrofoam compactor on the truck

Tesco Ireland's fish counters use Styrofoam boxes to transport their products. As we know, Styrofoam contains 98% air, which makes it a logistical challenge to store and transport it for waste management.

In May 2017, Tesco Ireland and DS Smith Recycling began working with local partners to recycle Styrofoam boxes, which reduced the average bin lift at Tesco Ireland estate by 35%.



The biggest challenge of Styrofoam recycling is that the foam waste is so bulky and lightweight, and the cost of transportation is much higher, which makes it difficult for used Styrofoam to be accepted by local recyclers. In addition, many small and medium-sized enterprises have little investment in recycling equipment due to the lack of money. This has led to imperfect Styrofoam recycling system across the country, making recycling of expanded polystyrene a challenge.

The partnership between Tesco and DS Smith is based on innovative solutions to recycling challenges and improvements to existing processes. So in 2017 DS Smith and Tesco began working with local partner Waste Matters as part of a partnership aimed at getting local suppliers involved and supporting local businesses.



Waste Matters helped solve the challenge of Styrofoam recycling by combining compaction with transportation, as well as Styrofoam compactor transported in articulated trucks, collecting Styrofoam waste at drop-off points and then compressed them into tight blocks.

This way of Styrofoam recycling is also available in the state of Oregon in America. The company applied GREENMAX Styrofoam compactor and put it on the truck to recycle as much Styrofoam waste as possible in the local area.



Moreover, recycled Styrofoam is useful and this material can be of great benefit to you. It can be made into PS pellets to produce more other products. For example, our company makes full use of recycled Styrofoam to make beautiful photo frames and decorative moldings, and then sell the high-quality products across the world. This working model of turning waste into treasure will bring good social impact.


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