At the beginning of the year, the UK’s largest inland fish market, Billingsgate Market announced that it is to recycle all EPS (expanded polystyrene) fish boxes that pass through its famous portals, as fish boxes account for 80% of the market''s waste.
The chosen technology, the Clean Heat Packer, is manufactured by Pana Chemical and supplied, installed and maintained by EPS Packaging Group member, Plastic Packaging Recovery Europe (PPE).
The Clean Heat Packers reduces the volume of EPS fish boxes by 50:1 enabling 25 tonnes to be loaded on to a 40-foot container for efficient and economic transportation.
The polymer blocks are clean, dry and odourless, and they can be easily palletised and stored outdoors without affecting the value of the blocks (the blocks do not take up water when left outdoors).
Most importantly, the melting process destroys the fishy smell and moisture in the boxes so the material can be recycled into a variety of new items such as decking, hangers, CD cases and picture frames.
