Is expanded polyethylene recyclable?

Expanded foam packaging, such as expanded LDPE used around blinds and picture frames, sits in a recycling grey area. It's neither truly rigid nor flexible, so it's usually not accepted in kerbside or flexible plastic collections. For now, this "Schrödinger's plastic" is best treated as general waste unless a specialist recycling option is available.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 96 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 28th May 2026.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

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