The Hartland landfill processes 140,000 tonnes of solid waste per year, of which 1.7% is either polystyrene (PS) or expanded polystyrene (EPS).^1,2 This doesn't sound like a great deal when measured in terms of mass. By volume, however, this converts to approximately 11,951 m³ (excluding pre- and post-burial compaction).^*

Polystyrene is a long chain hydrocarbon with every other carbon connected to a phenyl group. Two different types of polystyrene are used in most packaging applications: foamed or expanded (EPS), and non-expanded (PS). EPS is utilized for meat trays, appliance and electronic packaging and take-out containers, while PS is used for plastic cutlery, disposable plates and CD jewel cases.³

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