DENVER, CO--(Marketwire - Dec 13, 2011) - The recently released 2010 EPS Recycling Rate Report conducted by the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers (AFPR) demonstrates steady growth in the amount of Expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging recycling since the 1990s. AFPR releases recycling rates every 2 years. Total EPS recycling increased to 71.3 million pounds in 2010. A total of 28% of all post-consumer and post-commercial EPS was recycled in 2010, an increase of 3.5 million pounds over the 19.5% recycling rate in 2008 -- one of the highest recycling rates among all plastics products.
Post-commercial and post-consumer packaging is any material that is recycled after its intended end-use. 2010 marks the highest post-consumer & post-commercial recycling rate for the industry since the inception of the recycling rate report in 1990. The report illustrates that EPS recycling has reached a stable baseline of incremental growth and end-use market developments.
"ACH Foam Technologies alone recycled about 4 million pounds of both post-industrial and post-consumer EPS in 2010," said Todd Huempfner, VP of Operations. "Considering that EPS is 98% air, this is a huge volume or material." ACH Foam Technologies has become actively involved in assisting companies with their recycling needs, as reflected by the company's large volume of recycled material.
"We have taken a holistic approach to servicing our customers by offering our recycling capabilities and serving as a valuable recycling resource. We provide them with information about how to locate a large volume recycler when we are not able to accommodate their needs," said Erich Brandt, Senior VP Sales & Marketing. "In addition, ACH Foam has been working with AFPR which has put together information for packaging & OEM customers about how to set up their own recycling program." AFPR has assisted companies such as Ethan Allen, GM, Crate & Barrel, and NASA.
Sanofi pasteur has partnered with AFPR to develop a successful collaborative EPS recycling program. EPS has proved to be an environmental material choice, according to Bill Tarabek, director, U.S. distribution for sanofi pasteur. "Unlike material such as paper, EPS does not degrade and will not leach any substances into groundwater, nor will it form harmful gases. Sanofi pasteur developed a Return and Recycle Program for our customers who prefer to recycle."
Since January 2008, sanofi pasteur has offered its U.S. customers a prepaid mail-back recycling program that works through its partnership with AFPR. Sanofi pasteur's customers -- physicians and healthcare providers -- who receive EPS shippers containing their medical supplies are provided with tape strips and a shipping label. They simply empty the EPS container, tape the lid closed, apply the label and give it to their courier for shipment to a recycler.
ACH Foam Technologies' plants offer recycling for smaller quantities of post-consumer (non-food contaminated) EPS packaging. Learn more about ACH Foam Technologies or learn more about the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers and download the 2010 Recycling Rate Report.
