The seafood industry churns through countless polystyrene boxes every year.
They’re perfect insulators, durable and cheap, according to Waste Matters Director David Deverell. But because they can’t be used twice, they’re also extremely wasteful, he told SeafoodSource at the 2023 Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Spain, where he was displaying the company’s polystyrene recycling equipment. Eps Machine
The Clara, Ireland-based firm sells a number of different-sized machines that dice up the boxes and compact them into recyclable blocks that can then be sold as material for insulation boards.
“We generally find in talking to people here [at SEG] they don't realize this material has value,” Deverell said. “The polystyrene blocks are actually a very desirable material for home construction. So when they’re paying waste-management companies to take away that waste, they’re actually giving away money.”
The recycled polystyrene market is most fully developed in Europe, and the continent accounts for most of Waste Matters’ sales, Deverell said. The company has developed a network of partners around Europe to help facilitate the installation and maintenance of its machines, he said.
“Once seafood businesses see how it’s proper recycling and also good for their bottom line, it’s a very simple business,” Deverell said. “If the idea works for them, it’s as simple as that.”
Sales have picked up since a major lull during the Covid-19 pandemic, Deverell said.
“Last year was a tough year and we didn't do so well. This year has picked up quite a bit. Everybody's really just starting to get going again and things are much more buoyant. There's more purchasing – more people are here who want to buy,” he said.
Photo by Cliff White/SeafoodSource
Styrofoam Recycling Machine Want seafood news sent directly to your inbox?