The Second Life of EPS: Celebrating America Recycles Day on November 15

Did you know that, according to Keep America Beautiful, 75% of what ends up in landfills could be recycled?

 

Sunday, November 15 is America Recycles Day. The day promotes recycling across the country, giving Americans valuable tips on what can be recycled and helping both individuals and businesses improve their recycling practices.

 

At Plastilite, America Recycles Day is the ideal opportunity to educate customers about how and where expanded polystyrene (EPS) can be recycled and clear up some misconceptions about the recyclability of EPS. These priorities fit in line with the goals of Keep America Beautiful and their reasons behind America Recycles Day:

• Education
• Encouraging Action
• Promoting the Benefits of Recycling

 

Let’s tackle a few of the most common questions surrounding America Recycles Day:

 

Isn’t This Just Another Earth Day? While Earth Day encompasses a broad range of environmental issues, America Recycles Day focuses specifically on the benefits and best practices around recycling.

 

What If I’m Busy That Day? There’s an important new update in 2026, the promotion of America Recycles Month, which extends awareness, education and action initiatives throughout November.

 

Why Should I Care About Recycling? Recycling comes with a host of benefits, from conserving natural resources to reducing the material sent to landfills. It also helps American manufacturers recover materials and it supports jobs in both manufacturing and in recycling.

 

EPS Recycling: You may not realize that EPS is recyclable, and EPS recycling drop-off locations are available across the country, including at Plastilite’s centrally located campus.

 

It’s important to note that not every recycling facility accepts EPS, and not all types of EPS are accepted at each location.  You can learn more here: recycling FAQs.

 

In 2022, more than 165 million pounds of EPS materials were recycled in North America, used for new packaging, furniture, safety helmets, and automotive applications. Also, Plastilite’s REfoam+ is molded with up to 30% recycled EPS materials and biodegrades in biologically active landfills.

 

Celebrating America Recycles Day is as simple as contacting Plastilite. From recycling your EPS materials to designing packaging solutions that support sustainability, we’re your partner for efficient, effective and earth-friendly shipping.