EPS Sustainability Measures Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Recycling Committee Meeting Washington D.C. December 1, 2011

2 EPS Industry Commitment Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers (AFPR) founded in 1991 to develop industry-based collection infrastructure for expanded polystyrene (EPS) transport packaging Launched industry wide product stewardship program Developed OEM supply chain resource center Dedicated resources to improve waste disposal options with emphasis on customized solutions to address recycling logistics & economic challenges Effective January 1, 2012 – EPS Industry Alliance

3 Plastic Loose Fill Producers Council PLFC Established 1991 More than 1,500 locations Over 30% of all loosefill is reused Minimum recycled content is 25%

4 Green Today – Not Tomorrow? What makes packaging ‘GREEN’? Recyclability ― Recycled Content? Life Cycle Analysis? Biodegradability?

5 Sustainability Perspectives Environmental Accountability Landscape Is Changing  Packaging Scorecards  Life Cycle Analysis Understanding EPS Sustainability  Damage Avoidance Is A Key Sustainability Factor  Weighing Environmental Performance Attributes  Recycling Success Inter-Dependent Within Supply Chain

6 Maximizes Renewable or Recycled Source Materials Maximizes Renewable or Recycled Source Materials Recycled EPS is used in both closed-loop and open- loop processes to make a variety of applications from recycled-content foam packaging to durable goods and innovative new building products. In 2010 more than 71 million pounds of EPS was recycled.

7 Environmental Impacts

8 Meets Performance & Cost Market Criteria Meets Performance & Cost Market Criteria Because of its versatility EPS offers significant savings in design and development, product assembly and distribution costs. With customized packaging designs EPS delivers exactly the right amount of product protection. The high tensile strength and cellular structure give this lightweight product exceptional cushioning properties. EPS avoids costly damage claims and offsets environmental impacts from remanufacture and redistribution.

9 Designed To Optimize Materials & Energy Designed To Optimize Materials & Energy EPS feedstock is converted into a finished product 32 times its original volume—virtually turning air into a strong and efficient packaging material. If all EPS packaging were replaced with corrugated cardboard, paper, wood, molded fiber, etc., compared with current figures, raw material requirements would rise to 560%, power consumption to 215% and the landfill volume to 150%. “The Contribution of Plastic Products to Resource Efficiency”, GUA, Corporation for Comprehensive Analysis, 2004.

10 EPS Landfill Occupancy Other MSW 99.7% Materials Generated In The Municipal Waste Stream, 2010 – U.S. EPA Myth: EPS Clogs Landfills TRUE or FALSE? All polystyrene foam makes up only 3/10 of 1 percent by volume and 7/10 of 1 percent by weight of the entire U.S. solid waste stream. EPS Transport Packaging & PS Foodservice Products 0.3% By Volume Other Municipal Solid Waste 99.7%

Expanded Polystyrene Recycling

12 EPS Recycling Twenty Years Strong

EPS Recycling The EPS industry has achieved an average post-consumer recycling rate of 19% and average post-industrial rate of 25% for the past fifteen years, one of the highest among all plastics.

14 AFPR Recycling Assistance Businesses/OEMS  Large-Volume National Recyclers  Customized Assistance − Recycling How-to Information − Carton Inserts  One-Time & Repeat Delivery/Pick-Up Needs Consumers  AFPR National Mail-Back Program  Community Drop-Off Locations

15 National Mail-Back Program Since 1994 Consumer Pays Shipping Cost EPS Transport Packaging Only 45 National Locations

16 EPS Collection Logistics Collection radius via backhauling or dock delivery:  Loose ~ 100 miles  Compacted ~200 miles  Densified > 200 miles Transportation costs are determined on a case-by-case basis. 40 cubic yard dumpster ~ 400 lbs of EPS

17 Recycling Challenges Mixed material loads Additives  Flame retardant  Coloring  Adhesives Viable nationwide outlets

18 Recycled Markets Development Plastic Lumber Lightweight Concrete Highway Aggregate Durable Applications  Picture frames  Flower pots  Office supplies

19 Recycling Partnerships & Initiatives Government & Non-Profit State of Florida Alameda County, CA Butler County, OH Borough of Hightstown, NJ Center for Disease Control Dobbins Air Force Base OEMs & Retailers Publix Super Markets, Inc. Best Buy Sanofi Pasteur Tyco Electronics Dell Computer Herman Miller Cisco Systems General Motors Wal-Mart Haverty’s

20 Innovative Recycling Partnership National pharmaceutical suppliers  Pre-paid FedEx shipping label  Medical waste handling protocol in place  Cooler shipped to recyclers (AFPR members)  < 5,000 coolers recycled per month Three locations (east, midwest, west) Formal agreement between OEM & AFPR

21 Innovative Recycling Partnership Establish a Processing & Recovery Program for EPS Waste  Generate 10,500 lbs of EPS waste/day  Densified for U.S. & Korean Markets  Interior Trim Application Florida State Grant 2004/2005  $67,500 from State  $50,000 In-Kind Recycling Industry Contributions POLK COUNTY, FL

22 Special Problem Solving Free Floating EPS Dock Foam  Water Logged & Contaminated  Disposal Issue Since 1996 Bio Span Technologies & MO DOE Recycling Solution  Foam is dissolved with chemical solution  Mixed with recycled asphalt used in highway construction Funding Mechanisms  $55,000 Grant Lake of the Ozarks Solid Waste Council  Builders & Dock Owners to pay disposal/recycling fee LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO Illegal Dumping

Thank you! Questions? Please Contact Us… Diana Gentilcore Managing Director, Advocacy Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers 1298 Cronson Boulevard, Suite 201 Crofton, MD USA Phone: Fax: