EPS Sustainability Measures Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

EPS Sustainability Measures Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Recycling Committee Meeting Washington D. C. • December 1, 2011

EPS 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 2

Plastic Loose Fill Producers Council n PLFC Established 1991 n n More than 1, 500 locations Over 30% of all loosefill is reused Minimum recycled content is 25% www. loosefillpackaging. com 3

Green Today – Not Tomorrow? • • What makes packaging ‘GREEN’? Recyclability ― Recycled Content? Life Cycle Analysis? Biodegradability? 4

Sustainability Perspectives • 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 5

Maximizes Renewable or Recycled Source Materials • Recycled EPS is used in both closed-loop and openloop 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. 6

Environmental Impacts 7

Meets Performance & Cost 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. 8

Designed To Optimize Materials & 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. 9

EPS Landfill Occupancy Myth: EPS Clogs Landfills EPS Transport Packaging & PS Foodservice Products 0. 3% By Volume 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 Other MSW stream. 99. 7% Materials Generated In The Municipal Waste Stream, 2010 – U. S. EPA Other Municipal Solid Waste 99. 7% 10

Expanded Polystyrene Recycling

EPS Recycling Twenty Years Strong 12

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. 13

AFPR Recycling Assistance • 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 14

National Mail-Back Program • Since 1994 • Consumer Pays Shipping Cost • EPS Transport Packaging Only • 45 National Locations 15

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 16

Recycling Challenges • Mixed material loads • Additives § Flame retardant § Coloring § Adhesives • Viable nationwide outlets 17

Recycled Markets Development • • Plastic Lumber Lightweight Concrete Highway Aggregate Durable Applications § Picture frames § Flower pots § Office supplies 18

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 19

Innovative Recycling Partnership • National pharmaceutical suppliers § § Pre-paid Fed. Ex 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 20

Innovative Recycling Partnership POLK COUNTY, FL • 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 21

Special Problem Solving LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO Illegal Dumping • 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 22

Thank you! Questions? Please Contact Us… Diana Gentilcore Managing Director, Advocacy Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers 1298 Cronson Boulevard, Suite 201 Crofton, MD 21114 USA Phone: 410 -451 -8340 Fax: 410 -451 -8343 dlgentilcore@epscentral. org www. epspackaging. org