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	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 – A minimum drop off charge for up to 1 cubic metre of $20 - then an additional charge of $10 per cubic metre. Please arrange a time with EXPOL. Product dropped off MUST be EXPOL polystyrene, be bagged and clean - if it does not meet this criteria, then it is at EXPOL’s discretion whether to accepted for recycling. For pick up - please call EXPOL.
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 – A minimum drop off charge for up to 1 cubic metre of $20 - then an additional charge of $10 per cubic metre. Please arrange a time with EXPOL. Product dropped off MUST be EXPOL polystyrene, be bagged and clean - if it does not meet this criteria, then it is at EXPOL’s discretion whether to accepted for recycling. For pick up - please call EXPOL.
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 – A minimum drop off charge for up to 1 cubic metre of $20 - then an additional charge of $10 per cubic metre. Please arrange a time with EXPOL. Product dropped off MUST be EXPOL polystyrene, be bagged and clean - if it does not meet this criteria, then it is at EXPOL’s discretion whether to accepted for recycling. For pick up - please call EXPOL.
Christchurch - EXPOL Recycling Cubes	Available for recycling domestic polystyrene at: Mitre 10 Mega Papanui	Simply go into store and ask to be directed to the EXPOL Recycling Cube. This collection point is only for domestic polystyrene waste. The polystyrene must be clean and contain no other contamination.
Cromwell	EXPOL Cromwell 31 McNulty Rd, Cromwell Phone: +64 (3) 445 8414 si.sales@expol.co.nz https://www.expol.co.nz/	Drop Off – A minimum drop off charge for up to 1 cubic metre of $20 - then an additional charge of $10 per cubic metre. Please arrange a time with EXPOL. Product dropped off MUST be EXPOL polystyrene, be bagged and clean - if it does not meet this criteria, then it is at EXPOL’s discretion whether to accepted for recycling. For pick up - please call EXPOL.
Oamaru	Waste Management 0800 888 278 13 Industrial Place, Oamaru https://www.wastemanagement.co.nz/ Email: enquiries@wastemanagement.co.nz

REGION	CONTACT	PICKUP	REQUIREMENTS
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.
	Abilities Incorporated Phone 0272292250 Address 91 Hillside Rd, Glenfield, Auckland 0627 Website http://www.abilities.co.nz/ Email peterf@abilities.co.nz		Drop off is $20 a cubic meter, price varies for pickup
	Croxley Recycling 9 Astley Ave, New Lynn, Auckland 0600 0800 180160 http://www.croxleyrecycling.co.nz/collection-process		Drop off charge 40c - 85c a kilo - if it is clean and delivered - Pick up also available. Email for pricing
	Waitakere Refuse and Recycling Centre Phone- 09 301 0101 Address- 50 The Concourse, Henderson, Auckland 0610	No	Drop off has minimum charge $90, no pickup
	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
	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.
	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 – A minimum drop off charge for up to 1 cubic metre of $20 - then an additional charge of $10 per cubic metre. Please arrange a time with EXPOL. Product dropped off MUST be EXPOL polystyrene, be bagged and clean - if it does not meet this criteria, then it is at EXPOL’s discretion whether to accepted for recycling. For pick up - please call EXPOL.
Auckland - Expol Recycling Cubes	Available for recycling domestic polystyrene at: Mitre 10 Mega New Lynn Mitre 10 Mega Henderson Mitre 10 Onehunga Mitre 10 Botany Mitre 10 Takanini Western ITM Whenuapai ITM Kumeu Carters Te Rapa		Simply go into store and ask to be directed to the EXPOL Recycling Cube. This collection point is only for domestic polystyrene waste. The polystyrene must be clean and contain no other contamination.
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	EXPOLTauranga 7 Maru St, Mount Maunganui Phone: 027 588 0015 sales@expol.co.nz https://www.expol.co.nz/		Drop Off – A minimum drop off charge for up to 1 cubic metre of $20 - then an additional charge of $10 per cubic metre. Please arrange a time with EXPOL. Product dropped off MUST be EXPOL polystyrene, be bagged and clean - if it does not meet this criteria, then it is at EXPOL’s discretion whether to accepted for recycling. For pick up - please call EXPOL.
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 – A minimum drop off charge for up to 1 cubic metre of $20 - then an additional charge of $10 per cubic metre. Please arrange a time with EXPOL. Product dropped off MUST be EXPOL polystyrene, be bagged and clean - if it does not meet this criteria, then it is at EXPOL’s discretion whether to accepted for recycling. For pick up - please call EXPOL.