Agilyx Lands Grant to Expand Foam Polystyrene Recycling Capabilities

Agilyx Corp. said it had received a $50,000 grant from the Foam Recycling Coalition to purchase a densifier, allowing for more recycling of foam polystyrene.

The Oregon-based energy company, which converts plastics into commodities, recently expanded to include a polystyrene conversion process. The process uses recycled polystyrene to produce a high-quality styrene monomer and other petrochemical products.

“We are able to handle all types of foam polystyrene materials, including cups and food containers that might still have residue left on them,” Brian Moe, Agilyx’s vice president of operations, said in a statement. “Agilyx is working hard to bring recycling options to the marketplace that have not existed in the past and are excited to see support for our efforts by the Foam Recycling Coalition.”

“Companies like Agilyx provide the processing we need to help increase foam recycling across the country,” Lynn Dyer, president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute, which houses the coalition said in a statement. “Their efforts mean these valuable materials are able to be recycled in the communities they serve instead of going to landfills.”

Agilyx, which currently works with communities in the Northwest, has the capacity to process over 3,000 tons of foam polystyrene per year. Adding a densifier at the front end of the operation will allow for more efficient recycling and processing of the material.

The grant was made possible through contributions to FPI’s Foam Recycling Coalition, which focuses exclusively on increased recycling of post-consumer foam polystyrene. The coalition launched the grant program in 2015 to help fund infrastructure to collect and process these products. Its members include Americas Styrenics; Cascades Canada ULC; CKF Inc.; Chick-fil-A; Commodore; Dart Container Corp.; Dyne-A-Pak; Genpak; Hawaii’s Finest Products; INEOS Styrolution; NOVA Chemicals Corp.; Pactiv Foodservice/Food Packaging; and TOTAL Petrochemicals & Refining USA.