| Abstract [eng] |
EPS foam is one of the most common types of plastic, known as light but rigid material, which has excellent thermal insulation properties. It is a polymer obtained by suspension polymerization of styrene and pentane is used as its blowing agent. EPS foam is characterized as very stable and difficult to decompose in the environment, therefore the greatest shortcomings of polystyrene products occur at the end of their life cycle when they become waste. Therefore, an essential question for EPS producers is how to apply the principles of the circular economy in their production to ensure that EPS waste after the usage does not end up in landfills and would be recovered and reused as a secondary raw material. One of the best solutions is the collection, recycling and reuse of EPS waste in the production of new EPS products. Studies have shown that mixing the primary EPS raw material with the recycled secondary, new products of sufficiently good quality can be obtained. The use of such recycled plastics in the construction industry has gained acceleration in recent years. Also its important to mention that after proper recycling of EPS waste can also be obtained GPPS – general purpose polystyrene (transparent polymers from which EPS and XPS products are made). Polystyrene can be recycled by mechanical or chemical methods. In this project was carried out an analysis of the scientific literature, covering the use of expanded polystyrene products, production and recycling technologies. It were assessed the existing activities of the production of the production of expanded polystyrene and its impact on the environment and a study was carried out in order to implement preventive and integrated environmental management strategy solutions that would have a positive impact on reducing pollution of humans and the environment. In this project was chosen mechanical recycling which also called direct recycling because there are not involved modified polymers in this process. After applying the Cleaner Production methodology for calculation of material flow analysis in newly designed recycled EPS line in the company and application of life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology for environmental impact evaluation, it was compared the environmental impact of production by using primary EPS raw material and using recycled EPS waste. The obtained quantitative results proven that products with a secondary raw material have a lower environmental impact in several environmental impact categories than the primary raw material. These results suggest that it is worth for further analysis and research on the recycling and reuse of expanded polystyrene waste in technology adaptation. |
