Circular Energy NPC is driving innovation in South Africa’s waste sector through a pioneering Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) recycling initiative. As a registered Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), Circular Energy supports their trusted member LG Electronics in meeting their Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations while addressing one of the most challenging waste streams – expanded polystyrene.

Polystyrene, widely used in packaging, is notoriously difficult to recycle due to its lightweight, bulky nature and susceptibility to contamination. It persists in the environment for centuries and contributes to microplastic pollution, making it a significant environmental concern.

To tackle this challenge, Circular Energy, in partnership with LG Electronics, has commissioned advanced EPS recycling machines at RevoWaste in Gauteng and Reclite in KwaZulu-Natal. These specialised facilities play a critical role in processing polystyrene waste, using state-of-the-art technology to compress and transform it into dense ingots. This drastically reduces volume and enables the material to be reused as a valuable secondary raw resource.

The success of the initiative is built on strong collaboration across the value chain. Processors such as RevoWaste and Reclite provide the operational backbone of the recycling solution, while Circular Energy coordinates collection, compliance, and infrastructure support.

Through public-private partnerships—including support to Dolphin Coast Waste Management in Kwadukuza KZN – collection and storage systems are being strengthened, enabling greater diversion of polystyrene from landfill and improving local recycling rates.

Recycled EPS is already being repurposed into practical products such as skirting boards, wall panels, and decorative moulding frames, demonstrating the real-world potential of circular economy solutions.

This initiative highlights how collaboration between producers, recyclers, and infrastructure partners can transform a problematic waste stream into an economic opportunity—redefining polystyrene not as waste, but as a resource for a more sustainable future.