Kallie Branes from the Hawaii Wildlife Foundation once remarked that EPS foam infiltrates the ocean food chain. Microplastics enter the food chain via marine life, eventually impacting human health. Devin Frank, a researcher with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), highlighted that sea turtles frequently ingest EPS foam fragments, which can block their digestive tracts and lead to starvation. Albatrosses similarly mistake these foam pieces for food.

According to the latest AFPR study on EPS foam recycling in the U.S., approximately 39.7 million pounds of EPS foam waste were recycled in 2018, an increase from 25.9 million pounds in 2017. The post-industrial recycling total of EPS foam in 2018 was 74.1 million pounds, up from 39.7 million pounds in 2017. Although EPS foam recycling is on the rise, its usage has also exponentially increased in recent years.

Hawaii, a renowned tourist destination with the highest per capita renewable energy usage in the U.S., places significant emphasis on EPS foam recycling. It is estimated that Hawaiians discard over 50,000 pounds of EPS foam plastic daily. This white pollution severely impacts environmental aesthetics and tourism, thereby affecting the local economy. Additionally, the dense array of shops on the Hawaiian Islands, whether related to dining (EPS food containers), souvenirs (plastic packaging), or the fishing industry (fresh seafood EPS foam packaging), generates vast amounts of waste. Improper disposal of EPS foam threatens both animal and human life.

Instances like those involving turtles and albatrosses are numerous. Most notably, livestock such as cattle, sheep, and poultry, particularly fish, are prone to ingesting plastic fragments. Since these animals are part of the human food chain, harmful plastic components eventually enter human bodies through food consumption.

Solution

Therefore, it is crucial to use appropriate machinery for EPS foam recycling. For newcomers to this industry, we recommend Qinfeng’s CF-HM100 hot melt machine. This compact and cost-effective machine offers excellent quality and a compression ratio of 30:1 to 50:1, use CF-HM100 EPS Compactor, you will get a cubic block of EPS, the density of the block can reach 500-600kg per cubic meter. And one container can load more than 20 tons material,significantly saving on transportation costs. For industry professionals, we recommend cold-pressed EPS Foam Recycling Compactors. This technology is ideal for eco-friendly tourist cities like Hawaii and maintains material properties to the greatest extent possible.

In addition, the recycled EPS foam blocks can also be sold, which promotes Hawaii’s economic cycle and fits well with the development strategy of the tourist island. If you have similar needs for EPS Foam Recycling Compactors, please contact Qinfeng.