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How to Recycle PS-E 6 – Meat Trays, Clam Shell Take Away Containers, Broccoli Boxes

How to Recycle PS-E 6 – Meat Trays, Clam Shell Take Away Containers, Broccoli Boxes

PS–E 6 is plastic or polystyrene foam

PS-E 6 commonly make up ‘clam shell’ take away food containers, protective packing pellets and disposable plates, trays, bowls and cups as well as vegetable boxes. 

As clam shell take away containers become less and less available, PS-E 6 usually finds its way into homes uninvited, in the shape of a 'broccoli box' or as packing pellets, protecting something you ordered.



Although Polystyrene foam is technically recyclable, it generally cannot be disposed of in your council recycling bin and when something can't be recycled easily, it generally ends up in landfill. 

Polystyrene is extensively recycled commercially, so if you have a bit of it or can stash and save it, check the recycle location finder here for either commercial recyclers or your council. (Even if you aren't a business, there are a number of companies who will take large quantities of polystyrene.)

Polystyrene foam is also one of the worst plastics environmentally as it makes up a fair chunk of plastic debris in the ocean, where it is incredibly toxic to marine life who often mistake it for food. 

The best way to recycle polystyrene is to completely avoid it in the first place. 



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Science Notes
PS – E 6 plastic stands for Expanded Polystyrene. It is lightweight and it is made of up to 98% air and as little as 2% plastic, giving a ‘bubble effect’.  Polystyrene is made with benzene and it leaches styrene, a possible human carcinogen and hormone disrupter.

One of the key issues here is that polystyrene leaches at greater rates when heated which is a real problem with hot take away food in clam shells.

PS – E 6 plastic is recycled into waffle pods for buildings, picture mouldings, foam packaging and insulation.

Related Tip
If you get food like fruit and vegetables, meat or take-away food in PS-E 6 plastic, store leftovers in another container.  

Never reheat anything in PS-E 6 plastic. Apart from leaching styrene, it has a very low melt point and you might end up with more in your food container than you bargained for.