Initiative aims for “Widely Recyclable Status” for polystyrene

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) announced the formation of the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA), marking a significant step toward improving polystyrene recycling across the United States. This collaborative effort unites the polystyrene (PS) and expandable polystyrene (EPS) industries together with a diverse group of stakeholders from brands, converters, and recyclers, united by a shared goal: achieving “widely recyclable status” for polystyrene.

“This collaboration is a huge step forward for polystyrene sustainability, enabling more Americans to recycle a wide variety of polystyrene items,” said Matt Seaholm, President & CEO of PLASTICS. “Polystyrene is inherently recyclable, is being recycled today, and will be recycled at much greater scale in the future. Recycling is real, and we are proud to pursue this initiative at the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) to join the full value chain in working together to promote plastics sustainability.”

In partnership with experts at Resource Recycling Systems (RRS), the PSRA established a comprehensive roadmap to guide this initiative. Initial data indicates that 32% of the U.S. population currently has access to recycle one or more polystyrene items. Several formats are on the brink of qualifying for a “check locally” recycling status. Furthermore, with ongoing and planned industry investments in recycling capacity, PSRA expects recycling access for several polystyrene formats and applications to approach “widely recyclable status” by 2030. We will work collaboratively across the value chain and invest in infrastructure and education to accelerate progress.

From preserving food quality and safety to enhancing pharmaceutical transportation and medical applications, enabling economical appliance manufacturing and transportation, and contributing to efficient building construction, polystyrene is integral to various industries and used across diverse sectors and applications.

“Polystyrene is an essential material that provides numerous life-enhancing benefits, and a favorable carbon footprint compared to other materials,” said Richard Shaw, Chair of the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance.  “Our focus is to expand end-of-life recycling options for all types of polystyrene through strategic investments and partnerships with other stakeholders committed to a circular plastics economy.”

To support these initiatives, the PSRA will establish a recycling investment and education fund aimed at expanding polystyrene recycling throughout North America. These investments will seek to develop and deploy innovative ways to enhance and modernize recycling systems.

“We’re committed to addressing the challenges of recycling polystyrene,” said Patrick Krieger, Senior Vice President, Sustainability of PLASTICS. “By collaborating with communities, material recovery facilities, and drop-off programs, we aim to significantly improve recycling access and education for polystyrene. This is just the beginning, and we are optimistic about our strategy and approach to ensure all polystyrene is recycled at scale.”