Is Polystyrene Recyclable?

What is polystyrene?

Polystyrene, also known as styrofoam, is a synthetic material made from plastic and is one of the most widely used and common plastics in the world. It is used for CD cases, food packaging due to its insulating properties, and as packaging for protecting larger goods. It is a cheap material, hence why so much of it is produced.

Is polystyrene recyclable?

Unfortunately, polystyrene is not suitable for curbside pickup here in the UK, so it cannot be recycled with the rest of your jars or boxes. This is because it is bulky, which makes it hard and expensive to use machinery that will compact it. It is also very lightweight, so it can be very easily blown away with a bit of typical English weather which would complicate collections. 

Is polystyrene sustainable?

Polystyrene is not biodegradable and it more often than not goes into the waste bin, so realistically, it’s not very environmentally friendly. Although the production side is not terribly unsustainable since there is little to no waste created, the fact it does not get recycled much and ends up in landfills means that as far as materials go, it can’t really be considered sustainable.

Want to know more recycling information? Read our guide on what and how to recycle next.