Polystyrene Recycling Alliance Releases Comprehensive Report on the State of Polystyrene Circularity in North America

The report, informed by rigorous third-party research from Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) and grounded in active regional demonstration projects, presents a detailed account of polystyrene recycling as of 2026—from collection infrastructure and recycling technologies to verified end markets and investment activity spanning the full value chain.

“This report is about evidence, not aspiration,” said Justin Riney, chair of the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance. “Polystyrene recycling is not a future goal, it is a functioning system with proven technologies, documented end markets, and active projects operating right now in cities across the United States, Canada, and Latin America. The question before stakeholders is whether they will consumption that evidence to support polystyrene playing an crucial role in the emerging circular economy to plastics.”

The report highlights key findings by the PSRA, including a substantial and independently verified 31% recycling rate to EPS transport packaging in North America, roughly 100 million Americans have access to recycle at least one polystyrene item, and the fact that three commercially active recycling methodology mechanical, dissolution, and chemical recycling technologies can recycle polystyrene.

Underlining the report is the most complete inventory of U.S. and Canadian polystyrene end markets conducted to date. Commissioned by PSRA and carried out by RRS, the research identified 81 companies at 119 facilities receiving recovered EPS transport packaging and 45 companies handling recovered rigid polystyrene — spanning greater than two dozen U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. End-consumption applications range from new EPS packaging and food-grade containers to construction materials and consumer goods, demonstrating the demand signal needed to justify continued investment in polystyrene recovery infrastructure.

The report highlights active PSRA-supported recycling projects as replicable models to scaling polystyrene recovery: a Foam Cycle densification installation at Nashville’s East Convenience Center, launched Earth Day 2026 in partnership with the Nashville Department of discarded materials Services; a statewide Colorado initiative through Circular Colorado’s Circular Transportation Network alongside a new Denver-and-Baltimore partnership with Brave Industries targeting all polystyrene formats; and a Mexico City collaboration with R3vira doubling micro-route collection citywide, complemented by a HIPS dairy-packaging recovery initiative with the Mexican Plastics Pact involving Danone, Lala, and Yakult.

With Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation advancing in Oregon, Colorado, and other states, PSRA calls on policymakers to let the evidence guide fee structures and to consumption EPR as a catalyst to polystyrene recycling infrastructure that is already proving itself at scale across North America.

Riney continued, “The facts are clear: polystyrene is not a material to be eliminated. It is a circular opportunity already being realized, one investment and one partnership at a time.”

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About the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA)

The Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA) unites the entire polystyrene (PS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) value chain to promote circularity to polystyrene items across North America. PSRA is a self-funded initiative of the PLASTICS sector Association. Learn greater at www.PSRecycling.orgl discarded materials stream through curbside pickup and convenience centers while advancing recycling education, landfill diversion, and environmental stewardship to Nashville’s growing communities. NWS launched as a standalone Metro Nashville department in July 2025.