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SpanskIs Expanded Polyethylene Foam Recyclable?
With the RUNI SK370 EPE compactor, your EPE waste is efficiently turned from waste to value! With our compactor, you will save money on storage and transportation of the waste and also have the possibility of selling your compacted EPE waste for further EPE foam recycling.
What Is EPE Foam?
EPE is a material widely used for packaging goods. It is a harmless plastic with no taste or odor. EPP is flexible and has excellent shock absorption quality, high thermal resistance, and a high weight-to-strength ratio.
Even though EPE is highly recyclable and can be recycled multiple times, a lot of EPE still ends up in landfills or incinerators, causing environmental issues.
EPE is available in different forms and densities. The RUNI SK370 can handle non-crosslinked EPE. For crosslinked EPE, kindly reach out to us to ensure that we can provide a solution.
How to Recycle EPE Foam with a RUNI Compactor:
Step 1: Collect the waste
The first step in EPE foam recycling is collecting the EPE waste. This can be done by individuals separating the waste in a public waste management facility or by companies. The companies can either have their own RUNI SK370 for compacting the EPE if their amount of EPE is big enough to justify the investment, or they can send the collected EPE waste to a recycling company with a RUNI SK370.
Step 2: Compaction in the RUNI Screw press
The RUNI SK370 can be fed manually and by a conveyor belt. The material is fed into a hopper with an installed heavy-duty pre-crusher. The hopper is equipped with photo sensors for automatic start and stop. This means the machine requires minimal handling while running, and it is perfectly safe for your employees to operate.
After being fed into the hopper, the EPE will go through the specially developed heavy-duty pre-crusher, which will cut the material into smaller pieces. These pieces will then be compacted into solid blocks using the screw and automatic hydraulic jaws. Unlike many other machines for handling EPE foam, the RUNI SK370 does not melt the material. The SK370 compacts the EPE foam and only melts the surface of the compacted block to ensure that it keeps the block form. This is necessary as EPE has a high memory and is prone to re-expand.
Step 3: Pack and ship the compacted EPE for further reycling
The compacted EPE exits the RUNI machine as stable blocks with a melted surface. With the RUNI block divider and crane, the handling and stacking the blocks on a pallet is made very easy. After being processed in the RUNI SK370, the blocks of compacted EPE can be sold and transported to an expanded polyethylene foam recycling facility.
EPE Foam Recycling – Turn Waste into Value
With the RUNI SK370 for compacting EPE, you can reach a density of EPE waste up to 600-750 kg/m3. When compacted into solid blocks, the EPE waste is easy to handle, as it does not take up too much storage room and is easy to transport.
The compacted blocks can be sold for recycling at an EPE foam recycling facility, enabling you to turn your waste into value.
Learn How to Recycle Other Waste Materials
Do you have other types of waste, that you would like to recycle? Take a look at our other recycling guides:
Recycling of:
Besides our machines for compacting, we also offer solutions for dewatering of various packaging:
If you need any further information, or you have any questions about the RUNI machines, please fill out the form below. We will contact you as soon as possible.
