Polystyrene Recycling In The UK

The UK is one of the world’s leading producers of plastic packaging waste, and as a result, the UK Government is taking significant steps to help reduce plastic waste in the UK. From bringing in the Plastic Packaging Tax to ambitious targets to reduce plastic waste, more and more responsibility is being placed on UK businesses to cut their production and use of single-use plastics. 

Polystyrene is a popular component of packaging, used to help protect items in transit. But even though it is useful, polystyrene cannot be recycled through general household recycling collections, meaning it often ends up in landfills. 

Businesses, however, have options when it comes to polystyrene to help them reduce waste. Learn more about recycling polystyrene and the options you have to manage your plastic waste more effectively. 

Polystyrene is a type of synthetic polymer that is made from a monomer named styrene. It’s used to make a variety of products, including packing materials. Many businesses use polystyrene in food packaging and to provide support to products to protect them from damage.  

While polystyrene can’t be recycled through normal recycling collections in the UK, that doesn’t mean it can’t be recycled at all. Over 100 tonnes of expanded polystyrene (EPS) is recycled every month, including polystyrene foam.  

Polystyrene can be recycled through proper waste collection that will help to reuse it to reduce the impact polystyrene has on the planet. It’s also possible for businesses to make money from polystyrene recycling, with some companies paying up to £500 per tonne. If you can collect and compact your polystyrene waste and arrange for it to be collected, you could significantly reduce how much of your plastic waste ends up in a landfill each year.  

The best way to dispose of polystyrene is to use a waste baler to help you compact your waste and make it easier to store. Using a polystyrene baler will make it much easier to store unwanted polystyrene, which will help you free up space while reducing its volume too. Once you’ve gathered enough to meet minimum requirements for a payment, you can then arrange for it be collected.  

Using a polystyrene baler can boost your waste management processes, giving you a simple way to collect and store your waste, keeping your workplace organised and helping to improve your recycling rates. 

What are the benefits of recycling polystyrene? 

Another way you can reduce your polystyrene and plastic waste is to use a greener alternative for your packaging. New solutions are constantly being developed to help find alternatives to plastic that can still be effective for your needs. From biodegradable solutions to those that are dissolvable, there are many alternatives available to help you promote more sustainable packaging. 

Cutting down on your plastic waste sends a good message to your customers, and helps them adopt greener behaviours too. 

Waste balers are incredibly useful for businesses looking to manage their waste collections more effectively. A multi-purpose baler can help you compact cardboard, paper and plastic to make it easier to store your waste ready for collection. With your waste compacted, you could save on your waste collection costs, while also making your waste management safer, cleaner and easier to control. 

Larger businesses can benefit from a multi-chamber baler to recycle multiple types of waste at once, so if you have different types of plastic to recycle, for example, this will make it easier to keep your waste separate so it can be collected by the appropriate collector.  

Plastic balers are a worthwhile investment for your business, especially if you produce a lot of waste. You can choose to purchase or hire balers according to your needs and budget, which can help you maintain some flexibility within your business. phs Wastekit is one of the leading suppliers of plastic and cardboard balers and compactors in the UK, providing solutions that meet your individual requirements. With maintenance and service plans available too, you can ensure your balers are always working hard for you. 

If you’re interested in learning how your business can improve its waste management and recycling processes, why not take advantage of a free waste-saving audit? We can advise you on the best ways to improve your waste management, and help you work out the potential savings your business could make. Contact us today and let phs Wastekit help you save on your waste, and help save the planet too.