Polystyrene (#6)
Recycling
Polystyrene (PS, resin code #6) recycling handles both expanded polystyrene (EPS — foam) and high-impact polystyrene (HIPS — rigid). EPS packaging, packing peanuts, foam insulation, and rigid PS containers like disposable cups and food trays are all recyclable in commercial quantities.
What We Accept
All items processed through certified facilities with full documentation.
Get a Quote arrow_forwardRecycling Process
Collection
EPS is extremely bulky relative to weight. Densifying on-site (compacting or melting into blocks) dramatically reduces transport cost.
Densifying
Foam compressed at 50:1 ratio or melted into ingots. This is the critical step — shipping un-densified foam is economically impractical.
Pelletizing
Densified PS reprocessed into pellets for injection molding — picture frames, crown molding, coat hangers, and new packaging.
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Polystyrene (#6) Questions
Common questions about polystyrene (#6) recycling.
Back to Plastics arrow_forwardYes — EPS (expanded polystyrene, commonly called "styrofoam") is technically recyclable. The challenge is economics: it's 98% air, making it extremely expensive to transport. Densifying (compressing) on-site makes EPS recycling viable for commercial quantities.
For high-volume generators (shipping/receiving operations, cold chain logistics), we can coordinate foam densifier equipment. Densified EPS is 50x denser than loose foam and has real commodity value.
Loose fill packing peanuts are accepted in commercial quantities. They're reused where possible or densified and pelletized. Some facilities accept clean peanuts for direct reuse by shipping companies.
Clean foam food containers are technically recyclable, but food-contaminated foam is not. Many municipalities ban PS food containers entirely. For commercial operations, clean PS packaging (not food service) is the viable recycling stream.
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