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How a Paris Recycler Improved EPS Recycling with a GREENMAX EPS Compactor
Project Snapshot
• Country: France
• Industry: Recycling
• Material: EPS
• Machine: GREENMAX A-C200
The challenge: too many collections, not enough effective payload
A recycler in Paris had been offering EPS recycling services to local customers for years. These customers generated large volumes of foam packaging waste every day, and the recycler arranged regular site collections as part of the service model.
Initially, the arrangement was commercially workable. But as collection volumes increased, the economics started to shift. EPS is bulky and lightweight, so a lorry can appear full long before it carries a worthwhile payload. That meant the recycler was committing more vehicles, more labour, and more fuel, while the actual transport value per trip remained limited.
Why the old method started eroding margins
Once the recycler reviewed its operation, the core issue became obvious: loose EPS was consuming transport space far faster than it was generating return. In practical terms, each collection involved too much air and not enough dense recyclable material.
That created a margin problem. The more the recycler expanded the service under the old model, the more haulage costs, staffing costs, and vehicle wear increased. Instead of scaling efficiently, the business risked becoming less profitable as volumes grew.
Why GREENMAX
After learning about the GREENMAX EPS compactor, the recycler contacted the team to evaluate whether densifying foam at source could improve the numbers. Following discussions and site-level assessment, the decision was made to install a GREENMAX A-C200 directly at the customer’s premises.
This changed the entire collection logic. Rather than collecting loose EPS that filled vehicles too quickly, the recycler could collect compacted blocks with much better transport efficiency. That made the EPS recycling workflow far more commercially sustainable.
The solution: GREENMAX A-C200 EPS compactor
Once the A-C200 was in place, EPS waste no longer sat on site in bulky loose piles waiting for collection. Instead, the material was fed directly into the EPS compactor, where it was compressed into dense blocks.
This improved the process in several ways:
• Less on-site foam accumulation
• Cleaner and more usable working space
• Fewer site collections
• Stronger payload efficiency per trip
• A more stable, lower-cost logistics rhythm
For the recycler, the shift was significant. The collection target changed from low-density foam waste to compacted, transport-ready material.
Results: fewer haulage runs and stronger commercial performance
After adopting the GREENMAX A-C200, the compaction ratio reached 50:1. That meant each vehicle could carry far more effective material per trip than before.
The recycler saw several direct benefits:
• Transport frequency dropped sharply
• Fuel spend fell
• Labour input fell
• Vehicle operating costs decreased
• Profit margins improved
The lower logistics cost base also gave the recycler room to offer more competitive pricing, which helped reinforce the long-term relationship with the customer.
Why this matters for the UK market
For UK recyclers, EPS recycling often looks viable on paper but becomes difficult once collection and haulage costs are factored in. Lightweight foam can consume storage and transport capacity quickly, especially when collections are frequent and payload efficiency is weak.
An EPS compactor helps address that by densifying foam at source. For operators managing regular foam collections, this can improve margins, reduce operational friction, and make EPS recycling more scalable over time.
FAQ
What is an EPS compactor used for?
An EPS compactor compresses loose EPS foam into dense blocks so it is easier and cheaper to store, collect, and transport.
Why is loose EPS expensive to collect?
Because it fills vehicle space quickly without adding much weight, which reduces payload efficiency and increases haulage costs.
What compaction ratio was achieved in this case?
The GREENMAX A-C200 achieved a 50:1 compaction ratio in this project.
How does on-site compaction improve EPS recycling?
It reduces foam accumulation, lowers collection frequency, improves transport efficiency, and helps protect recycling margins.