Recycle polystyrene?

Question

does anybody know were you can recycle polystyrene as it seems such a waste just putting out for rubbush or deos anyone know why it is not used thanks

Answer 1

Local council will not take it  in the recycle  sacks.   It does not appear to be recyclable    Only buried or burnt.  Better if it was not made or used at all

Answer 2

You can reuse it for packaging or insulation. I use it broken up in the base of large planters instead of 'crocks', it does the same job and makes the planters easier to move!

Answer 3

No one has the ability to recycle standard polystyrene at the moment, but it seems that expanded polystyrene can be. Have a look at the following sites for more info...

http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20070103/ho...

http://www.styromelt.com/

http://www.expanded-polystyrene-recyclin...

Answer 4

Yes it is technically possible to recycle polystyrene - except no-one is really doing it.  From a WRAP event last week I would say PS will be phased out in the next 5-10 years as business migrate to other polymers.  The cost of converting machine to handle different polymers is what will take such a long time (£millions).

Some Local Authorities do collect PS, but only those that have Material Recycling Facilities (MRF's) that are capable of sorting mixed plastics (other than HDPE and PET).  

WRAP is pushing for MRF's to have this capability by 2011 and published a report last week which demonstrates its technically, economically and environmentally viable.  When this happens I think we will then see companies starting up who can reprocess the material, as we are seeing now with rHDPE for milk bottles and rPET for Ribena and Innocent.  The only small problem is that PS and PVC are only 10% of mixed plastics which means they are more likely to be phased out and replaced by other materials such as PET.

It'd be nice though if Local Authorities and the government were able to agree on one collection system in the UK so that when you move house you didn't have to spend ages getting used to a completely different system!!!

Answer 5

better not to have it in first place, otherwise re use it- can be used for insulation or packaging!