Polystyrene recycling

Polystyrene (often called styrofoam or expanded polystyrene [EPS]) is a lightweight plastic commonly used in:

• Packaging for electronics, appliances and furniture
• Protective foam in boxes
• Some food packaging (although not accepted here, see below)

It can’t go in your yellow lid recycling bin, but it is 100% recyclable when dropped off at the Brimbank Resource Recovery Centre.

YES - accepted polystyrene:

• White expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam packaging
• Clean white fruit and vegetable boxes (all stickers, tape and organic matter removed)
• Bean bag beans (must be in a secure, clear plastic bag – such as the original packaging)

All items must be white, clean, dry and uncontaminated.

Find out more about what can be recycled.

NO - not accepted:

• Polystyrene food containers (e.g. takeaway clamshells, meat trays, cups)
• Protective PE foam used in cardboard boxes for TVs, fridges etc
• Coloured polystyrene (white only)
• Wet, dirty or broken-up foam
• Polystyrene mixed with other materials (e.g. tape, stickers, cardboard or plastic)
• Peanut-shaped loose foam packaging
• Commercial or trailer-load quantities

Please note: tf your polystyrene has food or stains on it, it must go in your general waste bin.

For more comprehensive information on what to do with your waste, check out our A to Z waste and recycling guide.

Polystyrene can take hundreds of years to break down in landfills. It often breaks into tiny pieces, which pollute the environment and harm animals.

Polystyrene can be recycled into underfloor insulation and other building products. Dropping off your polystyrene keeps it in the loop and supports Australian manufacturing. It also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, litter and the environmental impact of plastic pollution.

All Brimbank residents can drop off their polystyrene at the Resource Recovery Centre.

This service is for residential waste only. It's not available for businesses or commercial quantities.

To ensure your polystyrene can be recycled:

• Remove all tape, stickers, plastic wrapping and cardboard
• Make sure it is clean, white and dry
• Collect in a bag or box for easy transport
• Bring only residential amounts – no large-scale or commercial loads

Keeping polystyrene intact (not broken into crumbs) also helps with processing and reduces mess during transport.

Bring your polystyrene to:

Brimbank Resource Recovery Centre
Stadium Drive, Keilor Park VIC 3042

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9am - 4pm
Saturday: 9am - 1pm
Public holidays: 9am - 1pm (closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day)

Residential waste only. No trailer loads or commercial quantities.

No. Polystyrene is currently only accepted at the Resource Recovery Centre.

Polystyrene collected at Brimbank’s Resource Recovery Centre goes to a local recycling facility. There, it is processed into raw materials. These materials help create new products such as building insulation, lightweight bricks and other durable goods.