Polystyrene Recycling

• What is expanded polystyrene?
• What can be recycled?
• What can't be recycled?
• Drop-off locations

It’s estimated Australian’s throw out more than 7 million wheelie bins of polystyrene packaging every year.

In contrast, a survey by the Plastics and Chemical Industry Association (and funded by Sustainability Victoria) found only 3504 tonnes of expanded polystyrene (EPS) was collected and recycled in Australia during 2010-2011.

When thrown out, polystyrene does not break down and takes up precious space in landfill.

Polystyrene is easily blown by the wind, ending up as litter in the environment where it can harm animals and marine life.

Polystyrene can’t be recycled from your kerbside recycling bin. But now you can help the environment and recycle polystyrene. Residents and small business can now drop-off expanded polystyrene for recycling at locations across Melbourne free of charge.  Once collected, your polystyrene will be recycled and re-manufactured into domestic building products.

What is expanded polystyrene?

There are many kinds of foam and plastic packaging. Expanded polystyrene is made by expanding beads of polystyrene plastic (like popcorn) which are then fused together.  Expanded polystyrene can be easily identified if the beads of foam can be easily seen when foam is broken.

What can be recycled?

You can recycle all clean white Expanded Polystyrene Foam (EPS) including:

Packaging for small and large appliances
White polystyrene fruit and vegetable boxes

*Please remove tape and labels

What can't be recycled?

No coloured polystyrene or foam
No meat trays or other similar food packaging
No plastic or foam wrapping
No tape or strapping
No bead bag beans
No peanut shaped loose foam packaging
No cardboard*

* note you can recycle cardboard packaging separately at all polystyrene drop-off locations.

Drop-off locations

As part of the Local Government Polystyrene Resource Recovery Project, polystyrene recycling drop- off facilities are now operational at the following locations:

Werribee Refuse Disposal Facility
Wests Road, Werribee
Melway ref: 243 E7
Phone: 9974 1001

Moonee Valley Transfer Station
188 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds
Melway ref: 28 D6
Phone: 8325 1730

Knox Transfer Station and Recycling Facility
251 George Street, Wantirna South
Melway ref: 72 D3
Phone: 9887 4222

Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
648 Riversdale Road, Camberwell
Melway ref: 60 B1
Phone: 9278 4444

Hume Resource Recovery Centre
Bolinda Road, Cambellfield
Melway ref: 7 8H
Phone: 9359 3813

Port Phillip Resource Recovery Centre
Cnr White and Boundary Streets, South Melbourne
Melway ref: 2E F11
Phone: 9209 6686 or 9209 6533

Whitehorse Recycling & Waste Centre
Cnr Burwood Highway and Morack Road, Vermont South
Melway ref: 62 K9
Phone: 9262 6236

Monash Waste Transfer & Recycling Centre
380 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill
Melway ref: 70 H8
Phone: 9518 3767

Darebin Resource Recovery Centre
Kurnai Avenue (off Henty Street), Reservoir
Melway ref: 18 C6
Phone: 9462 3455