The European rate of recycling and recovery of EPS increases up to 45 %

According to data supplied by EUMEPS Packaging (European Manufacturers of EPS Packaging), the rate of recovery (recycling and energy recovery) has located in 2002 by 45 per cent, representing an increase of 5 points from the 2001. At the same time the rate of recycling for the 2002 was has encrypted by 32 per cent, again 5 points above the rate for the previous year.

With these data we assured the trend followed in recent years of a steady increase in both rates with very significant annual increases. These recycling data place the European industry of the polystyrene expanded far beyond the requirements of recycling that makes the European Union for the family of plastics (of which the EPS is a small part).

But the increase in the rates of recycling is not something easy to achieve and we have to thank the efforts developed by the European industry of EPS in this area and its environmental awareness as well as the various associations that represent.

Cake Deputy graph we can see the destination of the materials recovered in Europe, resulting particularly significant the milling/grinding/cut for new applications with 43 per cent, the obtaining of polystyrene pellets by extrusion (for manufacturing with recycled material of frames)(, hangers, tapes of audio and video as well as disposable cameras) with 22 per cent and energy recovery situated by 30 percent.

In the Spanish case and although on the basis of data from recovery and recycling minor also have good figures that mark a clear upward trend in the recovery and recycling of EPS in our country. In the absence of data on production of EPS in our country, that they will be released again later this year, we can not calculate the rate of recycling but if we can see that the total quantities of recycled increased significantly by 16,11 percent from 1018 tonnes recycled in 2001 to the 1118 accounted for in 2002. With regard to recovery (recycled more energy recovery) also has increased by a similar percentage of 15,32 percent, from the 3518 tonnes in 2001 to the 4057 for 2002.

All these positive data reflect, as in the European event, the efforts of the Spanish industry of EPS to recycle more and demonstrate the willingness to compromise that our industry has on the environment.