Styrofoam, or expanded polystyrene (EPS), is a widely used material known for its lightweight and insulating properties. From packaging materials to disposable food containers, Styrofoam is ubiquitous in our daily lives. However, it is also a significant environmental concern due to its long decomposition time and difficulty in recycling. Styrofoam takes hundreds of years to break down in landfills, and its lightweight nature allows it to be easily dispersed, contributing to pollution in oceans and waterways. This guide will provide you with essential information on how to dispose Styrofoam responsibly, including practical tips.

It is usually not recyclable, as:-

1. EPS is expensive to transport, ship and store. It is made of 90% air, extreme bulky and often comes in odd shapes. When compressed, the actual yield is actually a lot lesser.

2. Contamination. It is difficult to clean styrofoam that is contaminated with food, drinks or chemicals as the material is so porous.

However, in places where there are EPS recycling facilities, clean EPS are compressed into bricks, and is then recycled to be made into toys, stationeries, and picture frames.

• Styrofoam – Not recyclable.
  * Dependent on the recycling facility processing it. At Gee Hoe Seng Pte Ltd, we currently do not accept styrofoams for recycling.