In Australia, approximately 45,0001 tonnes of expanded polystyrene (EPS) is produced and used each year.
Much of this EPS is embedded in long-term use, such as waffle pods used in housing construction, EPS blocks for road embankments, and in engineering/manufacturing components.
At Foamex, all our polystyrene manufacturing waste is recycled or converted into other products. Foamex’s commitment to polystyrene recycling extends to construction sites and end-users. We provide recycling bags for on-site clean-up and work with contractors to organise the pick-up of any waste or unused expanded polystyrene so that it can be granulated for re-use in new products. By doing so, we minimise the waste in the environment and keep it sustainable for the generations to come.
Approximately 40% of all polystyrene produced, or 18,000 tonnes, is single-use or short-term packaging that can still be recycled after use.2 However, while these types of polystyrene can’t be recycled from your kerbside recycling bin, many councils still make it possible for you to help the environment and recycle polystyrene.
Polystyrene recycling drop off stations are available through many Councils across Sydney and Melbourne at a range of locations.
Click on the following link to find a recycling drop off point near you in Sydney: http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/polystyrene/SydneyNSW
Click on the following link to find a recycling drop off point near you in Melbourne: http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/www/html/3658-polystyrene-recycling.asp
Once collected, polystyrene will be recycled and re-manufactured into domestic building products.
[1] Data Source: 2014 National Plastics Recycling Survey, SRU
[2] https://www.mwrrg.vic.gov.au/waste/recycling/polystyrene/