Introduction of the circular economy to expanded polystyrene household waste: A case study from an Ecuadorian plastic manufacturer

Abstract Transition towards a more sustainable society is a complex task. The depletion of natural resources and waste generation cannot be sustained indefinitely, i.e. as waste increases, local landfills keep growing and land availability reduces. The introduction of circular economy in effective household solid waste management practices should be considered especially for third world countries, such as Ecuador. In this context, plastic recycling is an important step, particularly the case of expanded polystyrene containers that currently are single-use only and later end up in local landfills. This paper presents a methodology for recycling Expanded Polystyrene by means of a case study from an Ecuadorian Plastic Manufacturer. First, the manufacture of resin from post-consume EPS containers was demonstrated possible by the manufacturer. Second, results show that using 30% of post-consume resin in the mix produce satisfactory laboratory results and operational recycled containers.