November 6, 2025
Oldcastle Infrastructure’s Candiac Plant Leads the Way in Polystyrene Recycling Innovation
CANDIAC, QUÉBEC — Oldcastle Infrastructure is proud to spotlight a breakthrough sustainability initiative emerging from its Candiac, Québec plant, one that began with a simple idea from an unexpected source: the mother of one of its own innovators.
Innovation at Oldcastle Infrastructure is often driven by creativity, curiosity, and a commitment to building a more sustainable future. For Charles Leblanc, Team Leader of R&D at the Candiac plant, that spark of innovation was reinforced close to home.
Charles’ mother, a resident of a 24‑unit condominium complex, was inspired by his work in sustainable materials research. Motivated to make a difference within her own community, she proposed a new initiative to the building’s social and green committees: collect used polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam®, and deliver it to Oldcastle Infrastructure for recycling.
The reason was simple: Charles had developed a method to give polystyrene a second life.
Once enough used material is collected, condo residents make the short, 17‑minute drive to drop it off directly at the Candiac plant. This community‑powered collection effort now feeds directly into the plant’s advanced recycling process, supporting a system that recycles approximately 30 tons of polystyrene per year. This material contributes to the 5% of recycled polystyrene (rPS) incorporated into the resin system used to produce Plastibeton®, one of Oldcastle Infrastructure’s innovative, sustainable infrastructure products for the communications end market.
The Candiac plant is already recognized as one of Québec’s leading Styrofoam® recyclers, and this grassroots partnership further strengthens its reputation for environmental leadership. The plant also encourages Oldcastle Infrastructure employees to participate by bringing in their own polystyrene waste, helping expand the impact even further.
What started as a small family idea has grown into a meaningful sustainability movement; one that is already influencing additional Oldcastle Infrastructure locations. And behind this effort is more than just enthusiasm: the recycling method developed at Candiac is patented. The process has been issued by the Commissioner of Patents in Canada and is currently under review by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
This innovation is another example of how our people, our passion, and our purpose are driving change—one small step, one community, and one recycled material at a time.
Stay tuned for updates as we continue to expand this program across additional regions.
Got Styrofoam®? Bring it in—and be part of the solution.