Circular economy of expanded polystyrene container production: Environmental benefits of household waste recycling considering renewable energies

Plastic industry is ubiquitous worldwide, and the generation of “plastic waste” has been steadily increasing to point being considered a high impact pollutant. The expanded polystyrene (EPS) plastic aware issue interested on trying recycling post-consumer material. Through recent study made in an alliance between private sector academy, feasibility EPS “mechanical” was proven; therefore, possible solution through circular economy model. aim present paper investigate potential environmental impacts avoided by scenario previously developed, life cycle assessment (LCA) performed for city Guayaquil, where 64% all manufacturing industries country are located. entire 1.00 kg 5 × inch. food containers were assessed from production stage until its end-of-life stage: focusing three different valorization paths, closed-loop (container-to-container) proposal with electricity share 2019 another 2027 future one, traditional linear (container-to-landfill). Results showed that C considers waste proposed have lower 14 out 16 categories, specific Land use (?31%), Ozone Depletion (?28%), Acidification (?24%) Terrestrial Marine Eutrophication (?21%). These results strongly suggest these kind could benefit environment greatly.