Quebec factory that can change the world

A local company wants to establish itself as a national reference for the recycling of polystyrene, also known as styrofoam, which is currently only recyclable at sorting centers in Quebec.

Also read: SMEs support the 40-55 expansion of the industrial park

Also read: Estree Company gives bicycles a second life

Polystyrene is a type 6 plastic that cannot be recycled, but Éco-capture wants to recycle it.

“We recycle more than one ton per day, our capacity is one ton per hour, so we can process 8,000 tons per year. It has probably become the largest polystyrene sorting center in North America,” explained Gille Wenne, vice president of eco-capture.

With the granules of this recycled material, the company can make street furniture.

The local company can turn it into a concrete additive, which can be used to increase its resistance to freezing and thawing.

“Currently, it is used to make underground gutters for hydro-Quebec and hydro-Ontario,” he said.

Éco-Caption wants to establish itself as a model across Canada.

“The goal is to have at least one plant in each province in five to ten years and reclaim all possible polystyrene,” the vice president said.

According to its vice president, this opportunity may come again to other companies.

“We take one step at a time and we hope this action will encourage other companies to try to recycle orphaned products,” he said.

Watch the full report in the video above.