Can you recycle polystyrene?

Expanded polystyrene (packaging blocks, packing peanuts, foam takeaway trays) is not recyclable in any UK kerbside scheme — it's mostly air and uneconomic to reprocess. Break it up and put it in general waste. A small number of recycling centres and specialist schemes accept clean EPS blocks; foam takeaway boxes with food residue are always general waste.

Tips

• Crush blocks to save bin space
• Offer clean packing peanuts to local eBay sellers
• Never put it in recycling 'just in case'

Which bin does it go in?

General waste — break it up; a few recycling centres take expanded polystyrene

Before throwing it away, see reuse, repair and donation routes.

Background: Plastic numbers 1–7 explained.

Also searched as: styrofoam, packing peanuts, EPS foam, foam packaging.