PSRA study examines current polystyrene recycling infrastructure in North America

The Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA), a group dedicated to advancing scalable polystyrene recycling solutions across North America, has released a comprehensive study focusing on end-market landscapes and recovery pathways for four major polystyrene resin types. 

Reviewing polystyrene recycling across the U.S. and Canada 

The study was conducted in partnership with Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) and includes primary interviews and a vetted facility catalog to develop a national inventory of companies receiving, processing, and reclaiming different forms of polystyrene.

Overall, the study identified 126 companies operating a total of 169 facilities across 30 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces that are either actively receiving, processing, or reclaiming some form of polystyrene, including general purpose polystyrene (GPPS), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), and extruded polystyrene (XPS). The research reveals there is established recycling infrastructure for recovering all forms of polystyrene and is positioned for continued growth with appropriate interventions.

More specifically, the study reveals significant maturity in recovery systems for EPS and XPS within commercial business-to-business supply chains. Researchers identified 81 companies handling recovered EPS and/or XPS, representing a total of 119 facilities across 30 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces, with more than half operating as manufacturing end markets using recycled feedstock. Today, more than 700 drop-off locations support EPS collection across North America. Recovery pathways include manufacturer take-back programs, self-backhaul through distribution centers, and deployment of densification equipment at construction and retail sites.

For GPPS and HIPS, the research identified 45 companies across 22 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces handling these recovered materials, with approximately thirteen percent representing manufacturing end markets using recycled feedstock. Medical plastics currently dominate post-use streams being reclaimed as post-consumer recycled content, alongside electronics captured through specialized e-waste programs. The study underscores the dual need to build reliable demand for post-consumer recycled GPPS and HIPS and expand consistent post-use supply streams through partnerships with plastic recovery facilities (PRFs), MRF operators, and chemical recyclers.

A collaborative approach to solving gaps in the recycling system 

"The polystyrene industry is committed to accelerating recycling and recognizes that robust end markets are essential to enabling a circular economy," said Justin Riney, Chair of the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance. "This study provides the critical insights and data we need to have a fact-based discussion with stakeholders and inform strategic investments in the collection and recovery infrastructure."

At its core, the study emphasizes building reliable demand signals that encourage investment in reclamation infrastructure and establishing dependable supply chains through partnerships with plastic recovery facility operators and chemical recyclers.

"The research conducted by RRS provides a comprehensive picture of the current state of polystyrene recycling in the United States and Canada, demonstrating that different degrees of infrastructure exist to support a circular economy for polystyrene," said Anne Johnson, Vice President and Principal at Resource Recycling Systems. "Our findings show that with strategic investments in collection and continued growth in market demand, the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance and its members can significantly expand polystyrene recovery rates."

This framework reinforces PSRA's central focus on enabling scalable, market-driven recovery pathways for polystyrene across North America for infrastructure investment, end-market development, and industry collaboration.