Recycling Airpop in New Zealand
Airpop is used in many different ways – from packaging to protection to construction systems. Made of 98% air, only 2% of any Airpop product is man-made. And that 2% is fully recyclable, right here in New Zealand.
Recycled Airpop is used to form new products such as pens, coat hangers, picture frames and engineered timbers.
There are currently many locations around the country that provide access to Airpop recycling services. Many of these recycling providers also offer pick up and drop off services, to ensure you can recycle hassle-free. They are also committed to environmentally sound recycling processes, and ensuring that Airpop can be recycled and re-used many times over.
Find your nearest recycling station below.
Some Tips for Recycling EPS
New Zealand’s Airpop industry is committed to reducing environmental impact. Help us look after our environment by following these simple guidelines:
- Store and transport Airpop in securely covered bags or bins
- Avoid cutting or breaking Airpop into pieces to reduce the spread of dust or any broken pieces
- Ensure storage bags or bins are free from any general rubbish
- Secure product offcuts to ensure they don’t blow away
Airpop recyclers are unable to accept:
- Contaminated polystyrene – containing food, organic matter or construction debris
- Coloured polystyrene
- Strapping
- Plastic film or foam wrapping
- Peanut shaped loose foam packaging
- Labels or tape
Advice for households
New Zealand Councils do not accept Airpop for kerbside recycling, so please do not place it into your Council recycling bin. Instead, we recommend that you return any unwanted Airpop product or packaging to the point of purchase for the retailer to recycle. If you have ordered the product online, you could contact one of the providers listed below.
New Zealand Airpop recycling facilities:
Find an Airpop Recycler
New Zealand recycling facilities that accept Expanded Polystyrene
| REGION | CONTACT | DROPOFF | PICKUP | REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandra | Wastebusters 03 448 9948 Boundary Rd Alexandra admin@wastebusters.co.nz |  | | Drop off : $7.50, Pickup $15 per wool bag/can be mixed and will be sorted. White polystyrene but trying to avoid cheap low density as it melts in the compressor machine. |
| Wanaka | Wastebusters 03 443 8606 Corner Riverbank and Ballantyne Road, Wanaka admin@wastebusters.co.nz | | | Drop off : $7.50, Pickup $15 per wool bag/can be mixed and will be sorted. White polystyrene but trying to avoid cheap low density as it melts in the compressor machine. |
| Dunedin | Waste Management 0800 10 10 10 13 Industrial Place, Oamaru https://www.wastemanagement.co.nz/ Email via website | | No dropoffs unless direct to recycling plant. Contact via website to get pricing for pickups, cleaned. | |
| Nelson/Tasman | Hope Moulded Packaging 41 Aniseed Valley Road Richmond, Nelson 03 544 5090 info@hmp.co.nz |  | | Please arrange a time for drop off. Free ‘drop off’ to our factory of ‘clean’ polystyrene that is bagged. Pickup of ‘bulk bags’ (which we supply) at a cost of $25.00 each |
| Blenheim/Marlborough | EXPOL Blenhiem 12 Woodmoor Rd, Blenheim Phone: +64 (3) 578 4874 Fax: + 64 (3) 578 2553 si.sales@expol.co.nz https://www.expol.co.nz/ | | | Drop off available, price varies. Please call to arrange a time with EXPOL. Collection available, price varies. Please call EXPOL to arrange collection. Clean uncontaminated polystyrene only. EXPOL reserve the right to refuse drop off and collection for large volumes, or where volumes exceed processing capacity. SERVICE TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE |
| Christchurch/Canterbury | Hugh McEwan 03 341 9147 0800 10 10 10 Waste Management 301 Marshs Rd, Hornby South, Christchurch 7676 https://www.wastemanagement.co.nz/ Email via website | | No dropoffs unless direct to recycling plant. Contact via website to get pricing for pickups, cleaned. | |
| Otago | Waste Management 0800 10 10 10 13 Industrial Place, Oamaru https://www.wastemanagement.co.nz/ Email via website | | No dropoffs unless direct to recycling plant. Contact via website to get pricing for pickups, cleaned. | |
| Invercargill/Southland | Southland Disability Enterprises via yellow wheelie bins 03 214 6188 28 Ettrick St, West Invercargill, Invercargill 9812 http://www.sde.org.nz/ Email via website | | | No drop off fee but will be a fee for accepting the waste. Pickup : $20 standard pickup but depends on size |
| Christchurch | EXPOL Christchurch 10 March Pl, Belfast Phone: +64 (3) 323 6540 Fax: +64 (3) 323 8291 si.sales@expol.co.nz https://www.expol.co.nz/ | | | Drop off available, price varies. Please call to arrange a time with EXPOL. Collection available, price varies. Please call EXPOL to arrange collection. Clean uncontaminated polystyrene only. EXPOL reserve the right to refuse drop off and collection for large volumes, or where volumes exceed processing capacity. |
| Christchurch | EXPOL Christchurch 91 Izone Dr, Rolleston Phone: +64 (3) 347 8249 Fax: +64 (3) 347 8225 si.sales@expol.co.nz https://www.expol.co.nz/ | | | Drop off available, price varies. Please call to arrange a time with EXPOL. Collection available, price varies. Please call EXPOL to arrange collection. Clean uncontaminated polystyrene only. EXPOL reserve the right to refuse drop off and collection for large volumes, or where volumes exceed processing capacity. |
| South Island - EXPOL Recycling Cubes | Available for recycling domestic
polystyrene at: Mitre 10 • Mitre 10 Mega Nelson • Mitre 10 Mega Rangiora • Mitre 10 Mega Papanui • Mitre 10 Mega Hornby • Mitre 10 Mega Ferrymead • Mitre 10 Mega Brougham Street • Mitre 10 Cromwell • Mitre 10 Mega Dunedin • Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown • Mitre 10 Mega Wanaka • Mitre 10 Gore * • Mitre 10 Mega Invercargill * | Simply go into store and ask to be directed to the EXPOL Recycling Cube. This collection point is for household polystyrene waste only, with a limit of two rubbish bags per drop off. The polystyrene must be clean and contain no other contamination. * These stores are only able to take back polystyrene waste/packaging from Mitre10 purchases | ||
| Cromwell | EXPOL Cromwell 31 McNulty Rd, Cromwell Phone: +64 (3) 445 8414 si.sales@expol.co.nz https://www.expol.co.nz/ | | | Drop off available, price varies. Please call to arrange a time with EXPOL. Collection available, price varies. Please call EXPOL to arrange collection. Clean uncontaminated polystyrene only. EXPOL reserve the right to refuse drop off and collection for large volumes, or where volumes exceed processing capacity. |
| Oamaru | Waste Management 0800 888 278 13 Industrial Place, Oamaru https://www.wastemanagement.co.nz/ Email: enquiries@wastemanagement.co.nz | | |
| REGION | CONTACT | DROPOFF | PICKUP | REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Abilities Incorporated Phone 0272292250 Address 16 Kaimahi Road, Wairau Valley, Auckland 0627 Website http://www.abilities.co.nz/ Email peterf@abilities.co.nz | | | Drop off is $20 a cubic meter, price varies for pickup |
| Auckland | Waste Management - Auckland Recycling Maurice Road, Penrose, Auckland 09 636 7599 | | | Drop off and collection services available. Drop off by appointment only. This is a paid service – please call Waste Management for current pricing. |
| Auckland | Waitakere Refuse and Recycling Centre Phone- 09 301 0101 Address- 50 The Concourse, Henderson, Auckland 0610 Website http://www.divert.nz/ Email info@divert.nz | | No | Drop off has minimum charge $90, no pickup |
| Auckland | Whangaparāoa Community Recycling Centre Phone- 0800 426 5169 Address- 637 Whangaparaoa Road, Stanmore Bay Website- www.hibiscuscoastzerowaste.com/ Email-hibiscuscoastzerowaste@gmail.com | | No | Price varies for Drop off, no pickup |
| Auckland | JJ International Ltd Phone- (09) 427 8964, 027 2747065 Address- 296 Duck Creek Road, Stillwater, Silverdale Website- Email- john@jjintlltd.co.nz | | No | Price varies for Drop off, Large quantities only. |
| Auckland | EXPOL Auckland 105 Captain Springs Rd, Onehunga, Auckland Phone: +64 (9) 634 3449, 0800 86 33 73 Fax: +64 (9) 634 0756 sales@expol.co.nz https://www.expol.co.nz/ | | | Drop off available, price varies. Please call to arrange a time with EXPOL. Collection available, price varies. Please call EXPOL to arrange collection. Clean uncontaminated polystyrene only. EXPOL reserve the right to refuse drop off and collection for large volumes, or where volumes exceed processing capacity. |
| North Island - Expol Recycling Cubes | Available for recycling domestic polystyrene at: • Mitre 10 Mega New Lynn • Grove Mitre 10 Onehunga • Mitre 10 Mega Henderson • Mitre 10 Mega Albany • Mitre 10 Mega Mount Wellington • Mitre 10 Mega Botany • Mitre 10 Mega Manukau • Mitre 10 Mega Takanini • Mitre 10 Mega Pukekohe • Mitre 10 Thames • Mitre 10 Mega Te Rapa * • Mitre 10 Mega Ruakura • Mitre 10 Mega Cambridge * • Mitre 10 Mega Rotorua * • Mitre 10 Mega Tauranga * • Mitre 10 Gisborne * • Mitre 10 Crofton Downs * • Mitre 10 Mega Petone * • Mitre 10 Mega Porirua * • Mitre 10 Mega Upper Hutt * • Mitre 10 Mega Wainuiomata * ITM ITM Mangawhai Western ITM Whenuapai ITM Kumeu MacClures ITM Other EXPOL Recycling Cubes are situated at: HyperDrive 434 Church Street East Penrose, AUCKLAND Seagull Centre 104 Burke Street THAMES Otaihanga Zero Waste 200 Otaihanga Road PARAPARAUMU Website https://otaihangazerowaste.com/ | Simply go into store and ask to be directed to the EXPOL Recycling Cube. This collection point is for household waste only, with a limit of two rubbish bags per drop off. The polystyrene must be clean and contain no other contamination. * These stores are only able to take back polystyrene waste/packaging from Mitre10 purchases | ||
| Whakatane | Waste Management Phone- (07) 308 9190 Address- 44 Te Tahi St, Whakatane 3120 Website https://wastemanagement.co.nz/ Email- *contact form on the website | | | Appointment only. Call for current pricing |
| Rotorua | Waste Management Phone- (07) 349 0222 Address- 6 Hamiora Pl, Ngapuna, Rotorua 3010 Website https://wastemanagement.co.nz/ Email- *contact form on the website | | | Appointment only. Call for current pricing |
| Tauranga | EXPOL Tauranga 7 Maru St, Mount Maunganui Phone: 027 588 0015 sales@expol.co.nz https://www.expol.co.nz/ | | | Drop off available, price varies. Please call to arrange a time with EXPOL. Collection available, price varies. Please call EXPOL to arrange collection. Clean uncontaminated polystyrene only. EXPOL reserve the right to refuse drop off and collection for large volumes, or where volumes exceed processing capacity. |
| Palmerston North | Ferguson St Recycling Centre 545-575 Ferguson St, Palmerston North https://www.pncc.govt.nz/Services/Rubbish-and-recycling/Palmy-recycling/Polystyrene-recycling/ | | | Drop your polystyrene off during opening hours Our Ferguson Street Recycling Centre accepts clean household polystyrene packaging during opening hours. You can bring in up to 1 cubic metre at a time. The fee for recycling polystyrene is 70 cents per 100 grams. Commercial Companies - Contact E-Cycle If you have large quantities of polystyrene foam to dispose of (more than 1 cubic metre) please contact E-Cycle directly. https://www.e-cycle.co.nz/ |
| Lower Hutt | EXPOL Wellington 5 Page Grove off 22 Eastern Hutt Rd, Wingate, Lower Hutt Phone: 0800 86 33 73 Fax: +64 (4) 567 5878 sales@expol.co.nz https://www.expol.co.nz/ | | | Drop off available, price varies. Please call to arrange a time with EXPOL. Collection available, price varies. Please call EXPOL to arrange collection. Clean uncontaminated polystyrene only. EXPOL reserve the right to refuse drop off and collection for large volumes, or where volumes exceed processing capacity. SERVICE TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE |
| North Island | Waste Management - EPS Recycling 0800 10 10 10 https://www.wastemanagement.co.nz/for-business/recycling/ | | | Please contact your local waste management office to discuss service options and pricing |
Australian Recyclers http://epsa.org.au/where-can-i-recycle-eps/
America USA EPS Industry Alliance
Asia Asian Manufacturers of EPS – AMEPS
Austria AG/Oesterreichisches EPS Verwertungs Office
Belgium Styfabel v.z.w
China CPPIAEPS, China Plastics Processing Industry Association, EPS Special Committee
China, Hong Kong CHKEPSA, Chinese Hong Kong Expandable Polystyrene Association
Denmark Danish Plastics Federation
Europe European Manufacturers of EPS – EUMEPS
France ECO PSE
GermanyIK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e.V.
India PSRAI, Expanded Polystyrene Recycling Association of India
Indonesia INAEPSA, Indonesia EPS Association
Japan JEPSRA, Japan Expanded Polystyrene Recycling Association
Korea KFRA, Korea Foam-Styrene Recycling Association
Malaysia MERC, Malaysia Expanded Polystyrene Recycling Council
Philippines PPCP, Polystyrene Packaging Council of the Philippines
SingaporeJebsen & Jessen Packaging Pte.Ltd.
Spain ANAPE
Sweden Svensk EPS Atervinning AB
Taiwan CTEPSRA, Taipei Expanded Polystyrene Recycling Association, Taiwan
Thailand TPFRIA, Thai Expanded Polystyrene Recycling Group, Thailand
United Kingdom British Plastics Federation
Go Recycle NZ