Which type of polystyrene can be recycled in Northern Tasmania?
News and Events / News
Look at the size of the foam ‘bubbles’ in the polystyrene. If they are big and soft, that is likely to be expanded polystyrene and that CAN be recycled in Northern Tasmania.
If no ‘bubbles’ can be seen in the polystyrene or they are very small and the surface is very smooth, they cannot be recycled and need to go in the garbage bin (best to avoid buying these packages if possible when shopping).
Expanded form polystyrene CAN be recycled in the Northern Tasmanian recycling program. This includes protective packaging found around electrical goods and other fragile items:
YES to these:
Compact form polystyrene can NOT be recycled in the Northern Tasmanian recycling program. This includes meat trays, coffee cups, egg cartons, take-away food clamshells, beads used in bean bags, and plastic packing ‘peanuts’:
NO to these:
Polystyrene can be dropped off to be recycled at any of these Northern Tasmania locations:
- The City of Launceston Waste Centre (Cavalry Road, Mowbray. Monday – Sunday: 8.00 am to 4.45 pm)
- George Town Waste Transfer Station
- Exeter Waste Transfer Station
- St Helens Waste Transfer Station
- Longford Waste Transfer Station and
- Deloraine Waste Transfer Station.
The polystyrene recycling program is an initiative of the Northern Tasmanian Waste Management Group and its member councils.