WASTE GUIDE · POLYSTYRENE
Can you recycle polystyrene?
Every new fridge, TV or sofa seems to arrive packed in it. It cannot go in your recycling bin in West Sussex, but it does have somewhere to go.
The short answer
Not in your home recycling bin. Expanded polystyrene, also called styrofoam, does not go in your West Sussex recycling bin. It goes in your general waste bin, or in the general waste container at a recycling centre. Packaging polystyrene can also go in a mixed waste skip.
Why polystyrene is hard to recycle
Expanded polystyrene is about 98 percent air. It is very light and bulky, so it costs a lot to collect and transport for the little material it holds. It also breaks into small beads that spread easily and contaminate other recycling.
Some specialist sites do recycle clean packaging polystyrene, but it is not part of the kerbside collection in West Sussex.
Where does polystyrene go in West Sussex?
- Small amounts: break it up and put it in your general waste bin.
- Larger amounts: take it to a recycling centre, such as the Worthing tip, and use the general waste container.
- During a clear-out or refit: it can go in a mixed waste skip with the rest of the rubbish.
Polystyrene in a skip
Packaging foam is fine in a mixed waste skip. Because it is so light, it fills space fast, so break big blocks down and put them in first, then load heavier items on top so nothing blows out.
Foam insulation boards from building work can also go in, but tell us how much there is. If you only have a few bulky boxes of packaging, a rubbish collection may be easier than a skip.
Common questions
Is styrofoam recyclable in the UK?
Not through most household collections, including in West Sussex. Expanded polystyrene and styrofoam go in your general waste bin or the general waste container at a recycling centre.
Can polystyrene go in the recycling bin?
No. In West Sussex, expanded polystyrene and styrofoam are listed for the general waste bin, not the recycling bin.
Can I put polystyrene in a skip?
Yes. Packaging polystyrene can go in a mixed waste skip. Break it down first and keep it weighed down so it does not blow away.
Why is polystyrene not recycled?
It is mostly air, so it is bulky and costly to transport for very little material. It also crumbles into beads that contaminate other recycling.
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