Treat the environment this Christmas and recycle your polystyrene packaging

Council has partnered with local business Rockcote to turn polystyrene packaging into innovative building products.

Noosa Council’s Waste Manager Wayne Schafer said the launch of polystyrene recycling from this Christmas at Noosa’s Resource Recovery Centres was exciting and a major win; with many people being left with large amounts of packaging material after the festive season.

Noosa residents can drop off polystyrene for free at Noosa Council’s Resource Recovery Centres from December 26. Residents can also drop off other, pre-sorted, bulky Christmas packaging such as cardboard and paper. Council will continue to offer this free service into 2017

Mr Schafer said Council was thrilled to partner with Yandina-based  Rockcote to deliver this innovative project.

“Award-winning Rockcote has developed a unique way of converting polystyrene into construction materials.

“With piles of polystyrene typically ending up at the local landfill every Christmas, where it will sit for hundreds if not thousands of years, this initiative is a fantastic Christmas present for the environment.

“We encourage everyone to do their bit for the environment this Christmas by making an extra effort to recycle all their packaging waste,” Mr Schafer said.

Polystyrene is a type of plastic that is non bio-degradable and breaks down into tiny micro-particles that can cause health problems for the birds, animals and marine life that ingest it. 

Cardboard, hard plastic containers, steel and aluminium cans, plus glass bottles can all go into the yellow lid recycling bin. Bulky packaging, including polystyrene, cardboard and e-waste such as electrical goods, computers and phones can all be dropped off at the Resources Recovery Centres, free of charge.

For more information about what can be recycled at Noosa Council’s Resource and Recovery Centre please visit Council’s website .

20 December 2016