Brazil and “Styrofoam” Reuse
Expanded polystyrene is often not recycled for many reasons. However, despite difficulties, EPS can and should be recycled. Discover how Brazilian Universities are recycling EPS waste for use in different applications
Updated on February 26, 2020
Very often people mistakenly use the word StyrofoamTM to describe products made of polystyrene foam. However, StyrofoamTM (extruded polystyrene - XPS) is the brand of an insulation board made by DuPont and is not used to manufacture any foam containers such as cups or packaging, which are made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) [3].
Expanded polystyrene is often not recycled for the following reasons:
- many recycling facilities do not accept it
- it is light and often blown away from recycling bins
- it is bulky, which makes transportation difficult and expensive
- may contain food and be mixed with other plastics
- recycled EPS cannot be used as a component in food containers because of health issues, even after going through a sterilization process
- it is easier and cheaper to produce new EPS than to recycle it
Despite these difficulties, EPS can and should be recycled. One of the ways to recycle EPS waste is to make composites for use in different applications.
In Brazil, Poletto and Zattera from the University of Caxias do Sul (UCS) and Ornaghi from the Sao Paulo State University (UNESP) [10] compressed EPS wastes, ground the material, and mixed it with wood flour in an extruder. The resulting material was injected into a mold to make wood-plastic composites, and the authors studied their mechanical, thermo-mechanical, and morphological properties. Final products made of recycled EPS-wood composites look like wood, cost less than hardwood, and can be used to make picture frames, park benches, flooring, outdoor furniture, among others.
Oliveira [8] from the Federal University of São João del Rei (UFSJ) studied the physico-mechanical properties of EPS-cementitious composites. The specific strength and apparent porosity of the composites had little variation and their volumetric and bulk densities decreased. These composites can be used in civil construction applications.
Researchers from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), and University of Moderna Reggio Emilia (UniMore) produced composites made of soda-lime-silica glass and EPS powder beads wastes to be used as thermal insulation [1], and composites made of recycled ceramic shell and EPS wastes for use in thermal and acoustic applications [2] with very good results.
Schackow, Effting, Folgueras, and Mendes from the Santa Catarina State University (UDESC) and Güths from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) [11] studied the incorporation of EPS and vermiculite in concrete. The results showed that EPS-concrete composite was lighter and presented higher strength than vermiculite-concrete composite.
Oliveira, Barbosa, Molina, Oliveira, Bertolini, Gava, and Ventorim from the Sao Paulo State University (UNESP) and Christoforo from the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) [7] studied the sound absorption properties of composites made of gypsum, EPS, and cellulose solid wastes. The results showed that they can be used for acoustic insulation applications.
Moreno and Cidade (Federal University of Santa Maria - UFSM) [5] developed a silver jewelry collection (a ring, a pair of earrings, and a bracelet) through the lost wax casting process using recycled EPS as a decorative element.
About 34.5% of the EPS waste is recycled in Brazil [6]. Civil construction is the biggest market for EPS recycling, whose waste can be mixed to mortars, light concrete, tiles, flooring, among others. EPS waste can also be used in footwear, furniture, flower pots, etc. [9].
Finding ways to successfully recycle EPS will require creativity, research, and government support. All of these are critical to the innovation and success of recycling efforts.
Sources:
- (1) de Moraes, E.G., Bigi, M., Stochero, N.P., Arcaro S., Siligardi C., Novaes de Oliveira, A.P.; Vitrocrystalline foams produced with EPS as pore former: Processing and characterization, Process Safety and Environmental Protection, Volume 121, January 2019, Pages 12-19; Accessed on Feb. 6, 2020.
- (2) de Moraes, E.G., Sangiacomo, L., Stochero, N.P., Arcaro, S., Barbosa, L.R., Lenzi, A., Siligardi, C., Novaes de Oliveira, A.P.; Innovative thermal and acoustic insulation foam by using recycled ceramic shell and expandable styrofoam (EPS) wastes, Waste Management, Volume 89, 15 April 2019, Pages 336-344; Accessed on Feb. 6, 2020.
- (3) DuPont; What is Styrofoam, 2020; Accessed on Feb. 3, 2020.
- (4) Kelly, J.; How does polystyrene recycling work?, 2020; Accessed on Feb. 3, 2020.
- (5) Moreno, S.N.S. and Cidade, M.K.; (2019). “Sustainability and Jewelry: EPS Recycling for Jewelry Application; MIX Sustentável. V.5, N.4, pages 27-39. 10.29183/2447-3073.MIX2019.v5.n4.27-39. Accessed on Feb. 5, 2020.
- (6) Mundo Isopor; Reciclagem de EPS Isopor®: Tudo o que Você Precisa Saber [EPS Recycling: Everything You Need to Know]. March 2018. Accessed on Feb. 7, 2020.
- (7) Oliveira, K.A., Barbosa, J.C., Christoforo, A.L., Molina, J.C., Oliveira, C.A.B., Bertolini, M.S., Gava, M., Ventorim, G.; “Sound Absorption of Recycled Gypsum Matrix Composites with Residual Cellulosic Pulp and Expanded Polystyrene”; BioResources 14(2), 4806-4813, 2019; Accessed on Feb. 6, 2020.
- (8) Oliveira, L.S; “Reaproveitamento de Resíduos de Poliestireno Expandido (Isopor) em Compósitos Cimentícios” [Reuse of Expanded Polystyrene Waste in Cementitious Composites], Master's Dissertation, Federal University of São João del-Rei, Accessed on Feb. 5, 2020.
- (9) Plastivida; “Brasil recicla 34,5% do EPS pós-consumo” [Brazil recycles 34.5 of post-consumption EPS]. 2012. Accessed on Feb. 7, 2020.
- (10) Poletto, M., Ornaghi, H.L., Zattera, A.J.; “Expanded Polystyrene: Thermo-mechanical Recycling, Characterization and Application” in Polystyrene: Synthesis, Characteristics and Applications, pages 53-65, Jan. 2014. Accessed on Feb. 5, 2020.
- (11) Schackow, A., Effting, C., Folgueras, M.V., Güths, S., Mendes, G.A.; “Mechanical and thermal properties of lightweight concretes with vermiculite and EPS using air-entraining agent”, Construction and Building Materials, Volume 57, 30 April 2014, Pages 190-197; Accessed on Feb. 6, 2020.