Every day, tonnes of lightweight expanded polystyrene (EPS foam) pile up across Victoria. Households, businesses and councils struggle with polysterine recycling — because this bulky material takes up a huge amount of space in landfill. That’s where Styrofoam Recyclers steps in. We divert that waste and give it a second life.
What Is Styrofoam Recyclers
Styrofoam Recyclers runs across Victoria, from Melbourne out to Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, and along the Surf Coast. We partner with homes, firms and local councils to collect polystyrene/Styrofoam that otherwise ends in landfill. As part of Recycle Group Pty Ltd, our mission is to build a true circular economy in Victoria: we don’t just pick up EPS foam, we turn it into something valuable again.
Why Polystyrene Recycling Matters in Victoria
Polystyrene trash is more than just an eyesore. According to studies, Victoria consumed about 15,100 tonnes of EPS in 2018–2019. Around 2,400 tonnes of that was recycled — which gives a recovery rate of roughly 16 per cent. That means a huge volume still heads to landfill. In fact, an estimated 12,000 tonnes of EPS is dumped each year, consuming about 240,000 cubic metres of space.
Worse, polystyrene takes forever to break down, and because EPS foam is mostly air it packs huge volume per weight. When councils don’t offer styrofoam recycling drop off points or bins, many people toss it in general waste, which fuels serious landfill problems.
The environmental cost is real. Recycling polystyrene cuts the demand for raw plastic and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. For Victoria’s waste system a low EPS recovery rate drags down overall plastics recovery — only 23 per cent of all plastic waste was recovered in 2022–23.
How Styrofoam Recyclers Collect & Process EPS
We make polystyrene recycling simple and smart. First, we work with households, businesses and councils to set up collections. You can drop off at our North Geelong facility or order 1 m³, 4 m³, or 8 m³ Styro Bags for pickup.
Then, our team transports that EPS foam to our facility. We use two kinds of pressing technologies: hot press and cold press. Hot press melts the foam using heat into dense bricks. Cold press compacts it without melting, using pressure instead. Both methods dramatically shrink volume. That means a once-bulky styrofoam block becomes a dense, transport-friendly block, ready for reuse.
What Happens After EPS Is Recycled
Once we’ve compacted the EPS foam, the real magic begins. Our recycled polystyrene doesn’t just go to landfill — it becomes raw material for new, high-value products. Through our process, we close the loop: trash becomes a resource.
Products Made From Recycled Polystyrene
Packaging & Protective Products
Our recycled EPS often becomes protective cushioning for fragile items: think electronics, TVs, computers or mobile phones. We also turn it into moulded sheets for glassware, ceramics, or even packaging peanuts — lightweight but durable cushioning for shipping.
Construction & Building Materials
In construction, recycled polystyrene does heavy lifting. It turns into insulation boards for walls and roofs. It also becomes void-fill material that builders use in concrete or structural work. And for design lovers, we craft architectural mouldings — insect-resistant, lightweight foam shapes that can be decorative or structural.
Food & Consumer Goods
You’d be surprised how EPS foam ends up in everyday life. We use recycled polystyrene to make takeaway food containers, cold-chain boxes for produce, and even trays for seedlings in horticulture. Artists and florists also love using lightweight foam blocks. Plus, rigid polystyrene goes into more unusual items, like CD jewel cases.
Safety & Automotive Uses
Safety gear benefits big time from recycled polystyrene. Child car seats and bicycle helmets rely on EPS’s shock-absorbing structure. Even in car bumpers, recycled foam can help absorb impact thanks to its light but sturdy nature.
How Households, Businesses & Councils Can Work With Styrofoam Recyclers
If you’re a homeowner wondering how to recycle styrofoam, here’s how it works: gather your clean EPS, drop it off in one of our bins (styrofoam recycling drop off sites), or arrange a pick-up if you’ve got large volumes.
If you run a business — maybe a warehouse, retailer or manufacturing plant — we can set up a regular collection service for your EPS foam waste. Councils, too, can partner with us: we help them set up community drop-off sites or even bulk collection bins for their residents.