CPIA and city of Montreal initiate pilot project for PS recycling

In Montreal, Canada, a large proportion of waste is generated by moving families each year on July 1. These waste can be recovered in the seven ecocenters in the city.

This year, the recovery of the No.6 plastics, commonly known as polystyrene (PS), will be added to the écocentre LaSalle. This plastic can be transformed in photo frames, coat hangers, flower pots and boxes, cornices, molded parts, insulating panels, protective packaging and office supplies, among other things.

The pilot project, "In search of number 6", implemented by the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) and the City of Montreal, is intended to recover PS which is still not recovered by the conventional collection of regular recyclable material.

"Contrary to some preconceived ideas, PS is 100% recyclable and other provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia have already set up initiatives to this end," indicates Paul Aucoin, Membership Development at CPIA. "By bringing their post-consumer PS products to the écocentre LaSalle, Montrealers, and especially those who will be moving over the next few weeks, will be doing the responsible thing by diverting this material from the landfill sites and consequently allowing its recycling."

Until September 30, 2014, Montreal citizens can bring back their PS articles (which should be cleaned and free of any extra packaging, labels, absorbent pads and aluminum covers) to the écocentre LaSalle.

PS can be recognized by the triangle with the number 6 inside. This symbol appears on many consumer products, as well as on food packaging and the rigid foam used to protect products such as electronics and small appliances.