EPS Sustainability MeasuresMetropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Recycling Committee MeetingWashington D.C.• December 1, 2011

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EPS Industry CommitmentEPS Industry Commitment

• Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers (AFPR) founded in 1991 to develop industry-based collection infrastructure for expanded polystyrene (EPS) transport packaging

• Launched industry wide product stewardship program• Developed OEM supply chain resource center• Dedicated resources to improve waste disposal options

with emphasis on customized solutions to address recycling logistics & economic challenges

• Effective January 1, 2012 – EPS Industry Alliance

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Plastic Loose Fill Producers Council

PLFC Established 1991 More than 1,500 locations Over 30% of all loosefill is reused Minimum recycled content is 25%

www.loosefillpackaging.com

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Green Today – Not Green Today – Not Tomorrow?Tomorrow?

• What makes packaging ‘GREEN’?• Recyclability ― Recycled Content?• Life Cycle Analysis?• Biodegradability?

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Sustainability Sustainability PerspectivesPerspectives

• Environmental Accountability Landscape Is Changing Packaging Scorecards Life Cycle Analysis

• Understanding EPS Sustainability Damage Avoidance Is A Key Sustainability Factor Weighing Environmental Performance Attributes Recycling Success Inter-Dependent Within Supply Chain

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Maximizes Renewable or Maximizes Renewable or Recycled Source MaterialsRecycled Source Materials

• Recycled EPS is used in both closed-loop and open-loop processes to make a variety of applications from recycled-content foam packaging to durable goods and innovative new building products.

• In 2010 more than 71 million pounds of EPS was recycled.

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Environmental Impacts

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Meets Performance & Meets Performance & Cost Market CriteriaCost Market Criteria

• Because of its versatility EPS offers significant savings in design and development, product assembly and distribution costs.

• With customized packaging designs EPS delivers exactly the right amount of product protection. The high tensile strength and cellular structure give this lightweight product exceptional cushioning properties.

• EPS avoids costly damage claims and offsets environmental impacts from remanufacture and redistribution.

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Designed To Optimize Designed To Optimize Materials & EnergyMaterials & Energy

• EPS feedstock is converted into a finished product 32 times its original volume—virtually turning air into a strong and efficient packaging material.

• If all EPS packaging were replaced with corrugated cardboard, paper, wood, molded fiber, etc., compared with current figures, raw material requirements would rise to 560%, power consumption to 215% and the landfill volume to 150%.

“The Contribution of Plastic Products to Resource Efficiency”, GUA, Corporation for Comprehensive Analysis, 2004.

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EPS Landfill OccupancyEPS Landfill Occupancy

Other MSW 99.7%

Materials Generated In The Municipal Waste Stream, 2010 – U.S. EPA

Myth: EPS Clogs Landfills

TRUE or FALSE?

All polystyrene foam makes up only 3/10 of 1 percent by volume and 7/10 of 1 percent by weight of the entire U.S. solid waste stream.

EPS Transport Packaging & PS Foodservice Products

0.3% By Volume

Other Municipal Solid Waste

99.7%

Expanded Polystyrene Recycling

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EPS RecyclingTwenty Years Strong

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2010 EPS Recycling

The EPS industry has achieved an average post-consumer recycling rate of 19% and average post-industrial rate of 25% for the past fifteen years, one of the highest among all plastics.

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AFPR Recycling AFPR Recycling AssistanceAssistance

• Businesses/OEMS Large-Volume National Recyclers Customized Assistance

− Recycling How-to Information− Carton Inserts

One-Time & Repeat Delivery/Pick-Up Needs

• Consumers AFPR National Mail-Back Program Community Drop-Off Locations

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National Mail-Back Program

• Since 1994• Consumer Pays Shipping

Cost• EPS Transport Packaging

Only• 45 National Locations

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EPS Collection Logistics

• Collection radius via backhauling or dock delivery: Loose ~ 100 miles Compacted ~200 miles Densified > 200 miles

• Transportation costs are determined on a case-by-case basis.

• 40 cubic yard dumpster ~ 400 lbs of EPS

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Recycling Challenges

• Mixed material loads• Additives

Flame retardant Coloring Adhesives

• Viable nationwide outlets

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Recycled Markets Development

• Plastic Lumber• Lightweight Concrete• Highway Aggregate• Durable Applications

Picture frames Flower pots Office supplies

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Recycling Partnerships & Initiatives

Government & Non-Profit• State of Florida• Alameda County, CA• Butler County, OH• Borough of Hightstown, NJ• Center for Disease Control• Dobbins Air Force Base

OEMs & Retailers• Publix Super Markets, Inc.• Best Buy• Sanofi Pasteur• Tyco Electronics• Dell Computer• Herman Miller• Cisco Systems• General Motors• Wal-Mart• Haverty’s

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Innovative Recycling Partnership

• National pharmaceutical suppliers Pre-paid FedEx shipping label Medical waste handling protocol in place Cooler shipped to recyclers (AFPR members) < 5,000 coolers recycled per month

• Three locations (east, midwest, west)• Formal agreement between OEM &

AFPR

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Innovative Recycling Partnership

• Establish a Processing & Recovery Program for EPS Waste Generate 10,500 lbs of EPS waste/day Densified for U.S. & Korean Markets Interior Trim Application

• Florida State Grant 2004/2005 $67,500 from State $50,000 In-Kind Recycling Industry

Contributions

POLK COUNTY, FL

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Special Problem Solving

• Free Floating EPS Dock Foam Water Logged & Contaminated Disposal Issue Since 1996

• Bio Span Technologies & MO DOE• Recycling Solution

Foam is dissolved with chemical solution Mixed with recycled asphalt used in highway

construction

• Funding Mechanisms $55,000 Grant Lake of the Ozarks Solid Waste

Council Builders & Dock Owners to pay disposal/recycling

fee

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MOIllegal Dumping

Thank you!Questions? Please Contact Us…

Diana GentilcoreManaging Director, AdvocacyAlliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers1298 Cronson Boulevard, Suite 201Crofton, MD 21114 USAPhone: 410-451-8340 Fax: 410-451-8343dlgentilcore@epscentral.org www.epspackaging.org