EPS is among most hotly debated materials when it comes to recycling. The material itself, composed mainly of air, is highly versatile, effective in reducing product damage, and cheap. But those same properties make it costly to recycle because it takes up a lot of space. Additionally, that light weight makes it easily swept away in the wind or water, where it adds to the problem of ocean plastic. No surprise, it has been banned in over 100 municipalities in a dozen U.S. states and including New York City.

The good news is that EPS can be recycled, although the economics can be precarious. Let's take a closer look.

There are two types of EPS: expanded and extruded polystyrene. Polystyrene itself is a form of plastic, a polymer that can be extruded (think Styrofoam®) or expanded.

The food service industry is a major user of this product, which makes strong, protective and insulating trays, cups and containers. These properties also allow it to be a preferred packaging material for product protection in shipping.

Kim Holmes is the director of recycling for SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association. She explained the upside of EPS to The Balance: “EPS is an attractive material for product packaging for a number of reasons. EPS is strong, yet lightweight. It is a very efficient insulator, and its structure offers excellent product protection from impact damage. It delivers this broad range of performance while also being a very cost competitive material. It uses significantly less energy and water to manufacture than paper alternatives.”