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Is polystyrene recyclable in the UK?

Polystyrene is widely used in the UK for food wrapping, protective packaging, and insulation. Items such as takeaway containers, disposable cutlery, and packaging inserts are still commonly made from polystyrene because it is lightweight and inexpensive.

Despite its widespread use, polystyrene is rarely recycled. Only around 1–2% of polystyrene waste is recycled in the UK, with most ending up in landfill or incineration due to contamination issues and limited recycling options.

This guide explains whether polystyrene can be recycled in the UK, why recycling rates remain low, and what that means for businesses and households dealing with polystyrene waste.

What is polystyrene?

Polystyrene is a widely used plastic made from petroleum. It is non-biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to break down naturally, which is one of the reasons it causes long-term waste issues.

Polystyrene is classified as number 6 under the Resin Identification Code system. You may see this shown as a triangle with a 6 on the packaging, which identifies the item as polystyrene.

The material is used so extensively because it is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to form into different products. Polystyrene can be moulded into rigid plastic, thin films, or lightweight foams, making it suitable for packaging, food service items, and building materials.

Key reasons polystyrene is so widely used include:

Versatility: It can be manufactured as solid plastic, foam, or film
Insulation: In foam form, it traps air effectively, helping retain heat
Lightweight: It adds minimal weight, which is useful for packaging and transport
Low cost: Production is simple and cheap compared to many alternatives

There are several common types of polystyrene in use today:

Polystyrene (PS): Rigid plastic used for items like cutlery, containers, and protective packaging
Expanded polystyrene (EPS): Lightweight foam often used for food packaging and protective inserts
Extruded polystyrene (XPS): Denser foam primarily used in insulation and construction

While these materials share the same base plastic, they behave very differently when it comes to waste handling and recycling.

Is polystyrene recyclable?

Polystyrene is technically recyclable, but in the UK it is rarely recycled in practice. Whether it can be reused or repurposed depends largely on how it is disposed of, the type of polystyrene involved, and the volumes being produced.

For households

For most households in the UK, polystyrene is not recyclable through kerbside collections. The majority of councils do not accept polystyrene, including expanded polystyrene foam, due to contamination risks, limited processing capacity, and the cost of handling bulky material.

As a result, domestic polystyrene waste is usually treated as general waste and sent to landfill or energy from waste facilities, even when it carries a recycling symbol.

For businesses

For businesses, polystyrene recycling is limited and highly specific. There is no widespread commercial waste collection service for polystyrene in the UK.

In some cases, clean expanded polystyrene (EPS) generated in larger volumes can be reused or repurposed by specialist operators. This usually involves the material being sold in bulk, rather than collected as part of a recycling service, and acceptance is often dependent on quality, volume, and market demand.

This is why polystyrene recycling rates remain very low overall, despite recycling being technically possible in controlled, commercial settings.

Why polystyrene is difficult to recycle

Polystyrene is one of the most difficult to recycle plastics in the UK. While it can be recycled in controlled conditions, several practical and economic factors limit its viability.

Polystyrene is lightweight but bulky. Expanded polystyrene in particular is mostly air, which means it takes up significant space while offering very little weight. This makes storage and transport inefficient and expensive.
Polystyrene is easily contaminated, especially when used for food packaging. Even small amounts of food residue can prevent reuse or repurposing, as cleaning the material is often not cost-effective.
There is very limited UK infrastructure for handling polystyrene. Most recycling facilities are not designed to process lightweight foams, and specialist operators are few and far between. Where activity does exist, it is usually focused on EPS polystyrene only.
The market value of polystyrene is low. Compared to commercial glass recycling or other plastics, there is limited demand for recycled polystyrene, which makes it difficult to justify the additional handling, storage, and processing required.

Together, these factors explain why polystyrene recycling remains rare in the UK, despite the material being technically recyclable.

Types of polystyrene and how recyclable they are

Polystyrene is not a single material. It exists in several different forms, each with distinct properties and very different outcomes when it comes to disposal and recycling. This variation is one of the main reasons polystyrene recycling is often misunderstood.

Some types of polystyrene are technically easier to process than others, but acceptance within UK waste systems is extremely limited across all forms. In practice, recyclability depends less on the material itself and more on whether any viable recovery route exists.

The table below outlines the main types of polystyrene, how they are typically used, and how recyclable they are in the real world.

Acronym	Type of polystyrene	Typical form	Common uses	Recycling reality in the UK
GPPS	General purpose polystyrene	Solid, rigid	Cutlery, rigid packaging, plastic lids	Not accepted by most councils or commercial recycling services
HIPS	High impact polystyrene	Solid, tougher plastic	Appliance housings, packaging, toys	Technically recyclable but no widespread UK collection routes
EPS	Expanded polystyrene	Lightweight foam	Packaging inserts, food packaging, insulation	Limited recovery only. Occasionally bought in bulk when clean
XPS	Extruded polystyrene	Dense foam	Construction insulation	Not recyclable through UK recycling collections
SPS	Syndiotactic polystyrene	Solid, heat resistant	Automotive and specialist components	No practical recycling routes in the UK

While solid polystyrene types such as GPPS and HIPS are technically easier to process than foams, they are still rarely accepted through household or commercial recycling collections. Dedicated recycling routes for these materials are minimal, and most are treated as general waste.

Foam-based polystyrene, including EPS and XPS, presents even greater challenges. Its low density, high risk of contamination, and lack of supporting infrastructure mean it is almost always disposed of rather than recycled. Where any recovery activity exists, it is usually limited to clean EPS in bulk and does not operate as a conventional recycling service.

The term Styrofoam is often used generically, but it is actually a brand name for extruded polystyrene (XPS). Like most foam polystyrene products, it is not recyclable through standard UK collections.

How polystyrene recycling works

In theory, polystyrene recycling follows a similar process to other plastics. In practice, this process rarely happens at scale.

When recycling is possible, polystyrene needs to be:

Kept clean and free from contamination
Separated by type, particularly foam versus rigid plastic
Compacted in volume to make transport viable

At a recycling facility, polystyrene is processed into a reusable plastic form, typically by shredding or melting the material and converting it into flakes or pellets that can be used as raw material in new products.

This requires specialist equipment and consistent material quality, as contamination or mixed plastic types can compromise the output.

In practice, there is no widespread infrastructure for polystyrene recycling since the process is not economically viable.

Polystyrene compactors and densifiers

Polystyrene compactors and densifiers are used to reduce the volume of polystyrene waste, particularly expanded polystyrene. Their primary role is operational rather than environmental, helping businesses manage bulky material more efficiently on site.

Without volume reduction, loose polystyrene can quickly overwhelm a standard commercial waste bin, creating storage and handling issues on site.

Polystyrene compactors

Polystyrene compactors reduce volume through mechanical compression. Loose polystyrene is fed into the machine and compressed using hydraulic pressure.

This process forces out trapped air and compacts the material into dense blocks or slabs. Compactors do not apply heat and do not alter the chemical structure of the plastic.

Mechanical compactors are typically used where:

Space reduction is the main objective
Waste volumes are steady but not extreme
Simplicity and lower energy use are preferred

They are most commonly found in warehouses, distribution centres, and retail back-of-house areas.

Polystyrene densifiers

Polystyrene densifiers reduce volume using a combination of heat and pressure. The material is heated until it softens, then compressed to drive out air and fuse the plastic into a dense, solid form.

The output is usually a solid log or brick with a much higher density than mechanically compacted material. Like compactors, densifiers do not create recycled plastic on their own, but they produce a more uniform and stable output.

Densifiers are typically used where:

Large volumes of EPS are generated
Maximum volume reduction is required
Material may be stored or moved over longer distances

They are more commonly used in manufacturing and construction environments.

Who typically uses this equipment?

Compactors and densifiers are most commonly used by businesses that generate regular volumes of polystyrene, including:

Warehouses and distribution centres
Retail fulfilment operations
Manufacturers receiving packaged components
Construction and insulation suppliers

In most cases, the equipment is rented through waste suppliers or specialist equipment providers, although larger operations may choose to purchase systems outright.

How this fits into disposal and recovery

Both compactors and densifiers make polystyrene easier to store, handle, and transport. However, neither guarantees recycling.

In the UK, compacted or densified polystyrene is still usually disposed of as general waste. In limited cases, densified expanded polystyrene (EPS) may meet the requirements of specialist operators who reuse or repurpose the material, depending on cleanliness, volume, and market demand.

The environmental impacts of polystyrene waste

The widespread use of polystyrene, combined with its very low recycling rates, has led to significant environmental impacts. For many years these impacts were largely overlooked, but growing evidence has highlighted the long-term harm caused by polystyrene waste once it enters the environment.

These impacts include persistent litter, the spread of microplastics in soil and water, harm to wildlife, and contributions to air pollution and climate change.

Polystyrene litter and persistence

When polystyrene becomes litter, it can persist in the environment for hundreds of years. Exposure to sunlight, moisture, and environmental acids causes the material to degrade slowly rather than biodegrade.

As polystyrene weathers, it can leach chemical residues into surrounding soils and surfaces. Lightweight foam fragments are easily carried by wind and water, allowing them to spread far from their original point of disposal.

Over time, larger pieces break apart into smaller fragments that enter rivers, coastal waters, and urban drainage systems.

Microplastics in soil, water, and food

As polystyrene fragments continue to break down, they eventually form microplastics that are invisible to the naked eye. These particles persist in soils, freshwater systems, and the marine environment.

Microplastics from polystyrene have been detected in rivers, sediments, and coastal waters across the UK. Studies have also found microplastics in household dust, drinking water, and food, raising concerns about long-term human exposure.

Because polystyrene does not biodegrade, these microplastics accumulate over time rather than disappearing, making their environmental impact of the waste cumulative and difficult to reverse.

Impacts on wildlife

Wildlife is particularly vulnerable to polystyrene waste. Birds, fish, and mammals may mistake fragments for food or become entangled in larger pieces.

Ingested polystyrene can block digestive systems, reduce nutrient absorption, and expose animals to toxic substances associated with the plastic. These impacts have been documented across both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

Atmospheric pollution and climate impacts

Polystyrene is derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource with a significant carbon footprint. While polystyrene is not the largest contributor to fossil fuel demand, its production still relies on energy-intensive processes linked to greenhouse gas emissions.

In the UK, a large proportion of polystyrene waste is sent to energy from waste facilities due to the lack of recycling options. Incinerating polystyrene can release harmful substances such as styrene and benzene, contributing to air pollution and posing potential risks to human health.

Polystyrene waste avoidance and reduction

Given the limited recycling options for polystyrene in the UK, waste avoidance and reduction play a far more important role than commercial recycling. This aligns with the waste hierarchy, which prioritises preventing waste in the first place, followed by reducing and reusing materials, with recycling only considered where no other option exists.

Regulation and producer responsibility

Recent policy changes have increased scrutiny on single-use plastics, including many polystyrene products. The UK has introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which places greater responsibility on businesses that manufacture, import, or sell packaged goods to consider the end of life impacts of the materials they use.

While EPR has not yet resulted in widespread changes to polystyrene recovery, it establishes a legal framework that encourages businesses to reduce reliance on hard-to-manage materials such as polystyrene, particularly in packaging.

Alongside EPR, the UK has implemented bans on the sale or supply of certain single-use plastic items, including many polystyrene food and drink containers. These bans are intended to reduce consumption rather than address disposal, reflecting the reality that recycling options are extremely limited.

Practical ways businesses reduce polystyrene waste

In response to regulation, commercial waste cost pressures, and environmental concerns, many businesses are taking practical steps to reduce polystyrene waste at source.

These steps form part of wider waste minimisation strategies used by businesses to reduce costs and environmental impact where recycling options are limited.

Reducing packaging volumes

Businesses are reviewing packaging specifications to eliminate unnecessary polystyrene, reduce void fill, and right-size packaging. Even small changes can significantly cut waste volumes.

Switching to alternative materials

Where possible, polystyrene is being replaced with materials that are easier to reuse or manage within existing waste systems, such as cardboard, moulded fibre, or reusable packaging systems designed for multiple uses.

Working with suppliers

Some organisations are engaging their delivery suppliers to reduce inbound polystyrene packaging, standardise materials, or introduce packaging take-back arrangements. Shifting decisions upstream often has a greater impact than downstream disposal efforts.

Reuse and internal circulation

Where polystyrene cannot be avoided, reuse helps reduce waste generation. This includes reusing packaging internally, between sites, or within closed supply chains rather than treating it as single-use, supporting a circular economy.

Procurement and design decisions

Larger businesses increasingly consider waste outcomes when making procurement choices. Selecting products and suppliers that minimise polystyrene use can reduce long-term dependency on materials that are difficult to dispose of responsibly.