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What Types of Foam Can Be Recycled?


Most of the commonly used foams today can be recycled, these foams include:

Polyethylene Foam

Polyethylene Foam, or EPE (expanded polyethylene) foam, is used for a large variety of purposes, including packaging, buoyancy aids, insulation, automotive components, electrical components, gaskets, and sportswear etc. Recycling is usually done at specialist recycling centres, by hot melting the used foam, to create pellets that can then be reused for many foam processes.

Polystyrene

There are two types of polystyrene foam, both of which are widely recyclable. The most common type of polystyrene foam, EPS (expanded polystyrene), is the type used in the making of disposable cups, food trays, and some forms of packaging. The other type of polystyrene foam, is XPS (extruded polystyrene), which is commonly used in construction, as an insulating material.

Polyurethane Foam

Polyurethane foam is the type of foam you find in furniture padding, carpet underlay and mats used for sporting activities. It’s usually recycled by regrinding it into a powder, or by shredding it, then re-bonding the shredded pieces to create new foam products.