Over 60% of the total plastic waste in Western Europe comes from packaging, which is typically thrown away within a year of sale.
Hard polystyrene performed packaging (e.g. used to protect electrical appliances)
Dispose of by trying to get the supplier to take it back; otherwise you will have to pit it out for the rubbish collection.
What happens to polystyrene?
Polystyrene can be made into new products including a replacement for hardwood, which is suitable for garden furniture, window frames and picture frames.
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
This is the soft cushioning plastic which many goods come wrapped in, e.g. fridges televisions, computers and goods sent through the post. It is recyclable, although it is really only feasible for the trade to recycle it. In theory, the supplier of the goods should take back any packaging, and we should all be insisting that they do just that.
REDUCE
Try to avoid buying over-packaged products, especially polystyrene and plastic wrapping. Use biodegradable starch-based loose fill instead as these can be composted! For further information on environmentally friendly packing visit this site.
REUSE
If you know anyone who has a mail order business, or runs a shop where they need to pack fragile items, they may be happy to use this sort of packaging.
RECYCLE
To recycle polythene packaging, carrier bags and wraps from magazines, cut out any paper labels as they clog the recycling machine, enclose your name and address and send to Polyprint. For further information visit the Polyprint website.
You can also put plastic bags into your pink bags for kerbside collection.
Also take a look at the other links on this site detailing how to deal with plastic bags, yoghurt pots, trays etc.
