How to Recycle Foam and Polystyrene Packaging in Australia

Expanded polystyrene — the white foam that cushions appliances, acts as a fish box, lines your coffee cup, and keeps your hot chips warm — is one of the most challenging materials to recycle in Australia. It’s bulky, light, and breaks into tiny beads that contaminate the environment for decades.

The good news is that polystyrene is actually 100% recyclable when it reaches the right facility. The challenge is getting it there.

Why polystyrene can’t go in the yellow bin

Expanded polystyrene (EPS, also called styrofoam) is made from polystyrene beads that have been expanded with steam. It’s about 95–98% air by volume, which makes it extremely lightweight — but that also means it has almost no economic value per kilogram in a recycling facility.

Additionally, EPS breaks apart easily into small beads that contaminate other recyclables and blow into the environment. Standard kerbside recycling facilities don’t process it because the cost of collection and processing exceeds the value of the material.

What BRAD accepts

Accepted foam items

• Foam cups (hot drink and cold drink cups made from expanded polystyrene)
• Foam food trays (the trays meat and produce come on from the supermarket, if foam rather than cardboard)
• Small foam boxes and food containers (takeaway foam boxes)
• Foam earplugs
• Small foam packaging pieces (protective foam corners and inserts from product packaging)

For the full list of what we accept (and what we don’t), check out our guide here.

Better suited to specialist drop-off

• Large EPS appliance packaging blocks (fridges, TVs, etc.) — these are too bulky and light for postal recycling. Take to a local EPS drop-off facility instead.
• Very large volumes of loose foam beads — contact BRAD directly for advice on large quantities.

For large polystyrene pieces, search for “polystyrene recycling near me” or “EPS drop-off [your suburb]” — many council transfer stations and commercial recyclers accept it. Some electronics retailers and appliance stores also accept EPS packaging from their products.

How to prepare foam packaging for BRAD

• Clean and dry. Remove any food residue from foam trays or containers. A quick rinse is enough.
• Break down large pieces. If you have larger foam pieces that fit within the weight and size limits, break them into smaller pieces to reduce the volume in your parcel.
• Contain the beads. Polystyrene breaks apart easily. Pack foam items in a sealed bag within your BRAD box to prevent beads from getting into other items.

How to recycle with BRAD: step by step

• Purchase a BRAD Pre-Paid Label. Labels are $15 for up to 2kg, or $30 for up to 4kg. Price includes postage and the full cost of recycling.
• Check your inbox. Within 2 hours you’ll receive an email with a form to complete. You’ll need your order number from your purchase confirmation.
• Fill in the form and download your prepaid label. Complete the form and print or save your Australia Post label.
• Pack and post. Attach the label to your box and drop it at a red Australia Post box or your local post office.
• Track your parcel. Follow its journey to Banish. Your BRAD voucher arrives automatically — no slip required inside the box.

BRAD Sydney drop-off: Prefer to drop off in person? Visit the Banish Sustainability Hub at Sydney’s Central Station. Open Tuesday to Friday, 9am–5pm. Drop-off costs $10 per 2kg.

What happens to polystyrene at BRAD?

Polystyrene is thermoplastic, meaning it can be melted down and reformed. At specialist recycling facilities, EPS is either compacted using a densifier machine (which reduces volume by up to 50:1), or dissolved in a solvent to create a liquid that can be reformed into new polystyrene products. The resulting material is used in products like stationery, photo frames, skirting boards, and insulation panels.

Polystyrene alternatives

The most effective solution to polystyrene waste is avoiding it at the source. Alternatives gaining traction include:

• Corrugated cardboard packaging inserts (fully recyclable in yellow bin)
• Moulded paper pulp packaging (recyclable and compostable)
• Mushroom packaging (mycelium-based, compostable)
• Air pillows made from recycled plastic film

For the most up-to-date list of what we accept (and don’t), check out our Digital – How to BRAD Downloadable Guide — a handy, printable resource to keep on hand when collecting your recycling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can polystyrene go in the yellow recycling bin?

No. Polystyrene (EPS foam) is not accepted in kerbside yellow-lid recycling across Australia. It breaks into tiny beads that contaminate other recyclables and can’t be economically sorted at standard facilities.

Is polystyrene recyclable at all?

Yes — but it requires a specialist pathway. BRAD accepts smaller foam items. Large polystyrene blocks can go to dedicated EPS drop-off facilities, which are available at many council transfer stations and commercial recyclers.

Can foam meat trays be recycled?

Yes, through BRAD. Give them a quick rinse first to remove any meat residue, then let them dry before packing.

Can I put polystyrene in the general waste bin?

Yes — it’s not hazardous. But it will go to landfill where it can persist indefinitely and break into microplastics. Using BRAD or a specialist drop-off is a much better outcome.

What’s the difference between EPS and regular polystyrene?

EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) is the white foam material — it’s been expanded using steam to be mostly air. Regular polystyrene (GPPS or HIPS) is a solid, rigid plastic used in things like CD cases and some food containers. Both are types of polystyrene but have different properties and recycling pathways.