Everything you need to know about recycling polystyrene

Polystyrene includes:
Styrofoam EPS Polystyrene pellets Polystyrene trays Polystyrene boxes Polystyrene packaging Polystyrene packing peanuts Polystyrene containers Polystyrene cups Polystyrene plates Polystyrene bowls Expanded polystyrene Polystyrene foam Foam boxes

Learn more about recycling polystyrene

How to recycle polystyrene

Expanded Polystyrene Australia (EPSA) has established a National Collection Network that provides businesses with recycling points for polystyrene (particularly packaging and building/construction applications). Recycling centres are located in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra. A service fee may apply for some products. Many EPSA members also accept clean polystyrene scrap for recycling.

In addition, there are other independent operators that accept polystyrene for recycling such as Ecycle Solutions which offers a national service, supplying collection bags that are collected once filled.

Use the directory on this page to find recycling drop-off and pick-up services for polystyrene*. Always call the recycler in advance to check they accepts the type of polystyrene you have and to see if there are fees.
 
*Please note: the businesses in the directory may not accept the following products: extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam including packing peanuts, meat trays, foam egg cartons, and disposable food service items such as cups and clamshell containers.
 
Image credit: Ecycle Solutions

What is polystyrene?

Polystyrene is used to make various products such as moulded packaging foam (often used to protect appliances), fruit and vegetable boxes, beanbag beans and packaging peanuts/pellets.

Polystyrene is a lightweight, rigid cellular plastic that is used widely in packaging to protect items. Due to its shock absorbing characteristics, it is useful for storage and in the transport of fragile and expensive items such as electronic equipment, chemicals and wines.

While polystyrene is a type of plastic, 98% of the material is actually air. It is made from oil, which is a non-renewable resource (meaning there is a finite amount of it on our planet).

Why recycle?

Expanded polystyrene (EPS), commonly known as polystyrene foam, is a lightweight cellular plastic material consisting of small hollow spherical balls that is widely used as a packaging medium. EPS is uniquely recyclable and can be fully reprocessed and used to make new plastic products such as outdoor furniture and decking.
 
Recycling polystyrene keeps it out of landfill and the environment. It also reduces demand for petroleum or crude oil, which is used to make polystyrene. Despite 98% of the packaging being air, polystyrene takes up large amounts of space when sent to landfill where it takes hundreds of years to break down. Due to its lightweight, polystyrene in landfill can also be blown away and enter our waterways and natural environment.
 
With the Australian Government’s National Plastics Plan addressing certain problematic and unnecessary uses of polystyrene, the material is a priority concern for many businesses and councils. Under the plan, loose polystyrene foam such as packing peanuts and moulded polystyrene for protective packaging are being reviewed with the possibility of these items being phased out nationally.

Many states in Australia already have legislation prohibiting the use, sale, and supply of single-use polystyrene packaging such as food and beverage containers. Find out more about single-use plastics bans in your state or territory.
 
Image credit: Ecycle Solutions

What happens to it?

In Australia, 56,000 tonnes of expanded polystyrene (EPS) was consumed in 2019-20. During the same period over 7,800 tonnes of EPS was collected and recycled. 1

The collected EPS is fed into a granulation machine. The granulated material is compressed into continuous lengths and placed in pallets for shipping. Most EPS material recycled by the EPSA Collection Centres is exported for further reprocessing. However, EPSA is committed to working with Australian companies to develop a closed loop Australian based EPS recycling industry.

The EPS material is then shredded and extruded to form general-purpose polystyrene pellets. This can then be used as a feedstock for applications such as synthetic timber, outdoor furniture and decking, stationery products as well as plant pots and coat hangers.
 
Reference
1 Australian Plastic Flows and Fates Study 2019-20 National Report 

Image credit: Ecycle Solutions

Packaging alternatives

Sustainable alternatives to polystyrene packaging are now available, with many Australian businesses already using alternatives such as cardboard made from recycled materials.
 
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) can provide further advice to businesses on the packaging alternatives available. For more information refer to APCO’s Action Plan for Problematic and Unnecessary Single-Use Plastics Packaging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is polystyrene recyclable?

Expanded polystyrene (such as polystyrene foam cups, packing peanuts and blocks used to protect valuable items in transport) should not be put in your recycling bin at home. While polystyrene foam is technically recyclable, it can only be recycled if it’s dropped off at designated recycling points or collected by a commercial recycler. Use the information on this page to see if there is a recycling point or service near you. If you cannot find one, it should be placed in your garbage.

Is polystyrene recycled?

In Australia, polystyrene foam (often referred to as Styrofoam) is sometimes recycled but it requires specialised equipment and infrastructure. That means, you cannot recycle polystyrene foam by placing it in your recycling bin at home or work. It must be dropped off at designated recycling points or collected by a commercial recycler. Use the information on this page to see if there is a recycling point or service near you. If you cannot find one, it should be placed in your garbage.

Can you recycle polystyrene packaging?

Polystyrene is a versatile material used in a wide range of packaging applications. Sometimes polystyrene is used to make food packaging such as yoghurt cups. Always look for the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) on the packaging to see if it can be recycled. If the ARL is not present on the packaging, check with your council to see if they accept rigid polystyrene packaging in recycling bins.

Another common type of polystyrene used in packaging is expanded polystyrene (EPS), sometimes referred to as Styrofoam. This type of polystyrene can be moulded into shapes and is often used as a packaging protectant for valuable items like appliances during transport (as blocks or small pellets). Polystyrene foam is also used to make takeaway containers like clamshell boxes; however, these are being phased out in Australia as part of the country’s single-use plastic bans.

Expanded polystyrene should not be placed in your recycling bin at home. It must be dropped off at designated recycling points or collected by a commercial recycler. Use the information on this page to see if there is a recycling point or service near you. If you cannot find one, it should be placed in your garbage bin.

Is expanded polystyrene foam recyclable?

Expanded polystyrene (such as polystyrene foam takeaway containers, packing peanuts and blocks used to protect valuable items in transport) should not be put in your recycling bin at home. While polystyrene foam is technically recyclable, it can only be recycled if it’s dropped off at designated recycling points or collected by a commercial recycler. Use the information on this page to see if there is a recycling point or service near you. If you cannot find one, it should be placed in your garbage bin.

Is polystyrene plastic recyclable?

Polystyrene is a type of plastic used to make a variety of products such as foam packaging like packing peanuts or food packaging like yoghurt cups.?? 
Polystyrene is technically recyclable, but most types of polystyrene should not be placed in your recycling bin at home.

•Polystyrene food packaging like yoghurt cups: Always look for the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) on the packaging to see if it can be recycled. If the ARL is not present on the packaging, check with your council to see if they accept rigid polystyrene packaging in recycling bins.

•Polystyrene foam: Never put polystyrene foam (like foam blocks or takeaway containers) in your recycling bin at home. While polystyrene foam is technically recyclable, it can only be recycled if it’s dropped off at designated recycling points or collected by a commercial recycler. Use the information on this page to see if there is a recycling point or service near you. If you cannot find one, it should be placed in your garbage bin.

Are polystyrene meat trays recyclable?

Some types of polystyrene meat trays can be put in your recycling bin at home, but not all. The only way to know if it can be recycled is to look for the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) on the meat tray which will tell you which bin to put it in. If the ARL is not present on the meat tray, put it in your garbage bin so it doesn’t contaminate your recycling bin. When in doubt, leave it out!

Are polystyrene packing peanuts recyclable?

No. Polystyrene packing peanuts should never be put in your recycling bin at home.

There are some commercial recyclers who recycle polystyrene foam and there are some public drop-off points; however, packing peanuts are not usually accepted because they are too small and light to manage efficiently. Polystyrene packing peanuts are being phased out in some parts of Australia as part of the state and territory single-use plastic bans.

Where to take polystyrene for recycling?

Expanded polystyrene (EPS), such as polystyrene foam blocks used to protect valuable items in transport, should not be put in your recycling bin at home. While polystyrene foam is technically recyclable, it can only be recycled if it’s dropped off at designated recycling points or collected by a commercial recycler. Use the information on this page to see if there is a recycling point or service near you. If you cannot find one, it should be placed in your garbage bin.