Solving a recycling challenge

Mitre 10 has teamed up with EXPOL to help solve a waste challenge - finding a responsible way to dispose of expanded polystyrene (EPS). EPS is commonly used as packaging to protect fragile goods and appliances, and while effective as packaging, recycling it can be challenging, as it’s not accepted by councils in kerbside collections.. This partnership is focused on creating practical, scalable recycling solutions to keep EPS out of the waste stream and give it new life as insulation and other building products.

What do we accept

There are two types of polystyrene (plastic ID code 6). The recycling cubes are for EPS expanded polystyrene only. The EPS we take looks like white boards made of little beads. The programme does not collect polystyrene foam, which is smooth in texture.
We take:

• Clean EPS (no dirt, food waste or residue, no stickers or tape)
• White and black EPS only

Non-commercial use only

The recycling cubes at Mitre 10 stores are for domestic use only. They may not be used for commercial polystyrene waste. Anything more than two rubbish bags in a single drop-off needs to be managed through EXPOL, who also operate a commercial recycling service. Please call: 0800 86 33 73 to discuss your requirements and any applicable costs.

Where can you drop off your unwanted Polystyrene

If your polystyrene packaging waste has come from another retailer, we kindly ask that you first check with them to see whether they have a take-back programme. If not, depending on the type of programme available below, we are able to offer the following in-store take-back options through our partner Expol.

• Albany – 260 Oteha Valley Road, Albany, Auckland
• Botany – 9 Bishop Dunn Place, Flat Bush, Auckland
• Cambridge - (only packaging received from a Mitre 10 purchase) – 1 Oliver Street, Cambridge
• Cromwell – 20 Elspeth Street, Cromwell
• Dunedin – 350 Andersons Bay Road, South Dunedin, Dunedin 9012
• Ferrymead – 1005 Ferry Road, Woolston, Christchurch
• Gisborne (only packaging received from a Mitre 10 purchase) - 24 Derby Street, Gisborne
• Glenfield - (only packaging received from a Mitre 10 purchase) – 15 Poland Road Wairau Valley
• Gore - 15 Irwell Street, Gore
• Henderson – 186 Lincoln Road, Henderson, Auckland
• Hornby – 370 Main South Road, Hornby, Christchurch
• Invercargill - (only packaging received from a Mitre 10 purchase) - 12 Elles Road, Strathern, Invercargill
• Manukau – 61 Lambie Drive, Manukau, Auckland
• Mt Wellington – 72 Lunn Avenue, Mount Wellington, Auckland
• Nelson - 99 Quarantine Road, Annesbrook, Nelson
• New Lynn – 5 Astley Avenue, New Lynn, Auckland
• Onehunga – 1 Princes Street, Onehunga, Auckland
• Papanui – 54 Harewood Road, Papanui, Christchurch
• Prestons - 390 Prestons Road, Marshland, Christchurch
• Pukekohe – 12 Wrightson Way, Pukekohe
• Queenstown – 46 Brookes Road, Frankton, Queenstown
• Rangiora – 1 Southbrook Road, Rangiora
• Rotorua - (only packaging received from a Mitre 10 purchase) – 1542 Amohau Street, Rotorua
• Ruakura (Hamilton) – 41 Ruakura Road, Hamilton
• Silverdale - (only packaging received from a Mitre 10 purchase) – 35 Colin Chester Drive
• Tauranga - (only packaging received from a Mitre 10 purchase) – 1066 Cameron Road, Gate Pa, Tauranga
• Te Rapa (Hamilton) – 1 Maahanga Drive, Hamilton
• Thames - 458 Pollen Street, Thames
• Wanaka – 100 Sir Tim Wallis Drive, Wanaka 9305
• Wellington (Crofton Downs) - (only packaging received from a Mitre 10 purchase) 128 Churchill Drive Wellington
• Wellington (Petone) - (only packaging received from a Mitre 10 purchase) 25 Bouverie st, Lower Hutt, Wellington
• Wellington (Porirua) - (only packaging received from a Mitre 10 purchase) 3 Semple Street, Porirua
• Wellington (Upper Hutt) - (only packaging received from a Mitre 10 purchase) 9 Park Street, Wellington
• Wellington (Wainuiomata) - (only packaging received from a Mitre 10 purchase) 6 Te Ara Raukura, Wainuiomata

About EXPOL

EXPOL is a New Zealand owned company that manufactures and supplies expanded polystyrene (EPS) products used widely in construction.

EXPOL collects the waste, then recycles the material into new products including EXPOL Tuff Pods, EXPOL Quick Drain, EXPOL Timber Under Floor, EXPOL ThermaSlab Sheet, EXPOL StyroDrain and EXPOL Earth Green Beans Bean Bag Fill, which is made of 100% recycled polystyrene.

EXPOL diverts over 500 tonnes of polystyrene from landfill each year (as at 2024).

For more information on EXPOL visit https://expol.co.nz/

Desktop Audit

The purpose of the audit is to verify that established practices, procedures, and downward pathways are in place and effectively followed in accordance with the programme.

EXPOL underwent a desktop audit conducted by the Mitre 10 Sustainability team on November 2026.

Mitre 10’s Strategy to reduce polystyrene

Additional to this, Mitre 10 has introduced a comprehensive Sustainable Packaging Guidelines Policy, which all suppliers need to comply with by the end of 2025. The policy requires the removal of unnecessary packaging and that any remaining is fully recyclable or home compostable in New Zealand.

We are on a journey to making a real and sustainable impact on the environment, our operations, and the communities we are part of for the better.