Italian Association for Expanded Polystyrene: Compacting expanded polystyrene to reduce storage and transport costs

AIPE
CREA
Organisation or Company
Associazione Italiana Polistirene Espanso (AIPE)
Type of organisation or company
Business Association
Country
Italy
City
Milan
Language for original content
Italian
Key Area
Waste management,
Secondary raw materials
Sector
Circular action for climate neutrality,
Packaging,
Plastics, Polymers and Rubber
Scope
National
Submitted by
ICESP
Ongoing
Yes
Description

AIPE (Italian Association for Expanded Polystyrene) is the national association of companies working with expanded polystyrene. AIPE is also a member of EUMEPS (European Manufacturers of Expanded Polystyrene)​. The centre where expanded polystyrene is recycled for AIPE is called CREA.

Expanded Polystyrene is fully recyclable, but its volume poses a particular challenge for pre-recycling collection and storage as it generates extra space and transportation costs.

To support its member firms, the AIPE offers a compaction service for their expanded polystyrene products. The compaction plant, owned by AIPE and equipped with a crusher and a compactor, can be used by the firms for free, covering only maintenance costs.

Main activity field
Administrative and support service activities
Other service activities
Main results
  • The compaction of expanded polystyrene reduces its storage and transportation costs, as its density - after crushing and compacting - is increased from 20-25 kg/m3 to 400 kg/m3.
  • The resulting product can be reused to produce expanded or compact polystyrene.

Read more about how to recycle polystyrene (IT).