Polystyrene is a lightweight, rigid cellular plastic that is used widely in packaging to protect items during storage and transport (such as Electronic equipment, white goods and liquids like wine).

Polystyrene is a type of plastic that is made from oil, which is a non-renewable resource (meaning there is a limited amount of it on our planet). Polystyrene takes hundreds of years to breakdown in a landfill, and despite 98% of the plastic packaging being air, Polystyrene takes up large amounts of space in landfills where it can easily be blown away and enter/harm our natural environment.

In 2019, the New South Wales Government agreed to a set of targets as part of the National Waste Policy Action Plan:

• Reduce total waste generated by 10% per person by 2030;
• Have an 80% average recovery rate from all waste streams by 2030;
• Significantly increase the use of recycled content by governments and industry;
• Phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics by 2025; and
• Halve the amount of organic waste sent to landfill by 2030.

All Councils and Communities within NSW play a key role in meeting the above set targets.

Circular economy is about changing the way people produce, assemble, sell and use products to minimise waste, and to reduce our environmental impact. The circular economy can also be great for business; by maximising the use of our valuable resources, and by contributing to innovation, growth and job creation. Moving to a circular economy will provide long-term economic, social, and environmental benefits for NSW. This transition will generate jobs, increase the robustness of the economy, increase the accessibility of goods, maximise the value of resources, and reduce waste. A circular economy is all about valuing our resources, by getting as much use out of products and materials as possible, and reducing the amount of waste we generate. For example, using recycled materials in manufacturing, repairing household goods before buying new ones, or repurposing items that are no longer used. More Information surrounding the Circular Economy can be found here: Circular Economy Policy (nsw.gov.au)

Image Credit: Department of Planning, Industry and Environment | NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041

There is now onsite collection point and processing. The Foam Muncher Truck will come to site and melt down the polystyrene products into blocks, which allows for more polystyrene to be collected. This reduces the carbon footprint.

Learn more about foam muncher

If the small load is co-mingled and the customer is able to segregate the polystyrene.

2022/2023 charges $9 instead of $13

If the large load is co-mingled and the customer is able to segregate the polystyrene

2022/2023 charges $21 instead of $29.

*2023/2024 Fees and charges take effect July 2023.

If your business or workplace has large quantities of polystyrene foam to dispose of, there are commercial recycling services available. Please touch base directly with Foam Muncher to find a suitable recycling option.

Foam Muncher Mobile Processing

Polystyrene foam that is dropped off for recycling at specialised collection points (such as Whylandra Recycling and Waste Facility) will be melted down onsite and then transported to Manufacturers to turn the raw material back into new products such as outdoor furniture, decking, picture frames and skirting boards.

At this stage and during the Trial period, Whylandra Recycling and Waste Facility is the only location where the Polystyrene can be dropped off. Following a review of the Trial, an ideal scenario would be to allow an expansion to Wellington Recycling and Waste Facility as additional drop off location.