EPS Recycling

EPS Recycling in New Zealand

There are at least thirty six locations around New Zealand where you can access commercial Expanded Polystyrene recycling services. With these organisations providing a variety of either pick-up or drop off services. Expanded Polystyrene is used extensively for packaging and in the building and construction industries for insulation and as fill in housing and commercial building slabs.

Expanded Polystyrene is fully recyclable! It is easily compacted, then reground and melted to form new products like pens, coat hangers, picture frames and engineered timbers.

When melted, Expanded Polystyrene becomes a solid polystyrene block and shrinks back to its original volume. Making it easier to transport for recycling and reuse in new products. There is a network of Expanded Polystyrene recycling partners across New Zealand and the world. Working together to support the recovery of EPS products at the end of their useful lives.

Some Tips for Recycling EPS

Expanded Polystyrene is 98% air and 2% polystyrene making it extremely lightweight. Expanded Polystyrene can become a problem if it is not handled correctly. When it is broken the small beads can easily blow away and become unwanted litter. Help us look after the environment, by following these guidelines:

– Store and transport EPS in securely covered bags or bins
– Avoid cutting or breaking the EPS into pieces to reduce the spread of dust or any broken pieces
– Ensure the bags or bins are free from any general rubbish
– Secure these to ensure they don’t blow away

EPS Recyclers WILL NOT accept

– No coloured polystyrene
– No strapping
– No plastic film or foam wrapping
– No peanut shaped loose foam packaging
– No labels or tape
– No contaminated polystyrene – containing food, organic matter or construction debris

Advice for Households

New Zealand Council’s do not accept Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) for kerbside recycling – so please do not place EPS into your Council kerbside recycling bins.

We recommend that your return any EPS packaging used on the products you have purchased to the point of purchase for the retailer to recycle. Or if you have ordered on-line you could contact one of the providers listed below.

Find an EPS Recycler

New Zealand recycling facilities that accept Expanded Polystyrene