Business Waste
No. 1 for HIPS Plastic Recycling

HIPS Plastic Recycling

Recycling High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) plastic is essential for all businesses that create this type of waste. It could be getting rid of certain children’s toys, tubes, point-of-sale signs, and other items at the end of their life made from HIPS. Recycling HIPS saves energy and resources while ensuring plastic doesn’t end up in landfill.

Many businesses and industries use HIPS plastic regularly due to its strength and versatility. This ranges from manufacturers creating new products to promotional signs in supermarkets and bathroom cabinets at home. When these reach the end of their life, recycling HIPS plastic is the most responsible disposal method.

Discover all you need to know about HIPS plastic recycling on this page. To arrange plastic waste collection from your business call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online today for a free quote.

ridged red tube made of HIPS plastic.
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What is HIPS plastic?

High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) is a thermoplastic that’s mouldable when heated and solidifies when cooled. HIPS differs from general purpose polystyrene as it’s modified with rubber. This makes it more durable with a high impact strength/resistance and versatility. As it’s a type of polystyrene HIPS has recycling code 6.

Many products are manufactured from HIPS due to its flexibility. It becomes soft, pliable, and malleable when heated, then solidifies when cooled. The rubber content means HIPS can go through vacuum forming, and it also bends and moulds easily while retaining its durability. Once remoulded it won’t weaken and its amorphous properties mean HIPS can be painted.

Examples of products made from or that contain HIPS plastic include:

  • Coat hangers
  • Promotional signs
  • Handling trays
  • Point-of-sale displays
  • Furniture fittings
  • Stationery supplies
  • Plastic toys
  • Bathroom cabinets

Is HIPS plastic recyclable?

HIPS plastic is fully recyclable. It can be recycled and turned into high impact polystyrene sheets that retain the same strength and consistency as new HIPS products. HIPS should be recycled separately from general purpose polystyrene – expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) – as it contains rubber.

You can store HIPS items with other plastic waste in the same bin though, as it will be separated for processing at the recycling centre anyway. Recycling HIPS plastic waste at home is more challenging. Not all local councils and authorities accept general polystyrene for recycling, so many don’t take HIPS.

Check whether your local authority allows plastic waste with recycling code 6 to be thrown away in your domestic recycling bin. If not, you can see if your nearby household waste recycling centre (HWRC) takes HIPS plastic for recycling. Otherwise, contact us at Business Waste to arrange a collection.

coat hangers made of HIPS plastic.

How is HIPS 
plastic recycled?

HIPS plastic waste is recycled in a similar way to other types of polystyrene. It’s recycled separately due to the rubber content and to ensure high-quality output. There are a few ways HIPS plastic is recycled, depending on the recycling centre and machinery it uses. The main process for recycling HIPS plastic follows these steps:

  • Sorting – your plastic waste is taken to a recycling centre where any HIPS products are extracted and sent for recycling separately from other plastic and polystyrene waste.
  • Cleaning – dirt and labels are cleaned from the HIPS products to ensure high-quality material.
  • Granulating – the HIPS may go through a granulator, which breaks down the HIPS into small polystyrene granules and retains its strength and other properties.
  • Manufacturing – the granules are used to form new HIPS sheets, which are sent to manufacturers who use them to create all sorts of new products.
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Why is recycling HIPS 
plastic important?

High impact polystyrene recycling is important to help save resources, reduce carbon emissions, and avoid plastic waste ending up in landfill. Any type of waste plastic in landfill – including HIPS – can add to pollution levels as chemicals in the plastic leach into the nearby air, ground, and water. HIPS is 100% recyclable so should always be reused.

Recycled HIPS sheets are just as strong and consistent as new HIPS plastic. This means it can be used to manufacture products of the same quality as those that use virgin HIPS. HIPS recycling to form new products save on the energy and emissions required to create new plastics.

Recycling HIPS plastic waste from your business also saves money on commercial waste disposal costs. Diverting your plastic waste away from landfill means you pay less landfill tax to get rid of your waste high impact polystyrene products. Plus, it protects the environment and enhances your reputation as a green organisation.

How to dispose 
of HIPS

As a business, you must arrange commercial waste collection to get rid of any plastic waste you produce, including HIPS. You can store any type of HIPS plastic in the same bin as other plastic waste on your premises, as it’s sorted at the recycling centre before processing. Follow these steps to dispose of HIPS responsibly:

  • Get a free no obligation quote for plastic waste collection. This is tailored to your needs – based on the number and size of bins you need, how often you want them collected, and where your business is in the UK.
  • We deliver free bins to store all your plastic waste together – you only pay for collection. Put all your HIPS plastic and other waste plastic in these bins within any weight limits and max fill lines.
  • Place the plastic waste bins at the agreed collection point ahead of the pickup time. Licensed waste carriers will come to remove and replace your plastic waste bins at the agreed time.
  • They transport your plastic waste to a nearby waste management centre where it’s checked and sorted. All HIPS will be removed, cleaned, and sent for recycling separate from other types of plastic waste.
  • We’ll provide a free duty of care certificate confirming the responsible, safe, and legal disposal of your HIPS and other plastic waste for added peace of mind.

To dispose of HIPS at home check if you can put plastic with recycling code 6 in your domestic recycling bin. Not all authorities and local councils accept HIPS plastic in their household waste recycling collections. If you can’t, see whether your local HWRC accepts HIPS waste for recycling.

Alternatively, contact Business Waste and we can help find a solution to dispose of your HIPS plastic responsibly even from your home.

number 6 plastic recycling code for polystyrene.

Who needs to 
recycle HIPS plastic?

Any business that produces HIPS plastic waste should ensure it’s recycled where possible. Recycling HIPS plastic saves your organisation money on commercial waste disposal costs and ensures you meet your duty of care to ensure your waste is managed responsibly. Some of the main industries that create and can recycle HIPS plastic include:

Arrange HIPS plastic 
waste collection

Get a free no obligation quote for plastic waste collection that includes your HIPS plastic waste. We’ll provide a tailored quote based on the size and number of plastic waste bins you need, how often you want them collected, and where from in the UK.

Daily, weekly, and fortnightly collections are available. We also deliver free bins to store your waste plastic – you only pay for collection. Sizes range from two-wheel 120 litre to four-wheel 1100 litre wheelie bins. You’ll also receive a free duty of care for every load of plastic waste removed from your premises.

Call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online for your free quote today. Speak to our friendly experts if you want to know more or need advice about the best solutions for your HIPS waste.

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Recycling HIPS FAQs

  • PLASTIC What category of plastic is HIPS?

    HIPS has the recycling code number 6 – the same as other types of polystyrene. When recycling HIPS plastic at home check if your local authority accepts plastic waste with the number 6 code. Even though HIPS is fully recyclable, not all authorities and local councils take category number 6 plastic waste for recycling.

  • PLASTIC Is HIPS plastic biodegradable?

    HIPS plastic is not really biodegradable. Like other forms of polystyrene, it will break down eventually but can take hundreds of years. It also needs exposure to heat and sunlight, which HIPS plastic in landfill doesn’t receive, so recycling HIPS plastic waste is always the best solution.

  • PLASTIC Where does HIPS plastic come from?

    HIPS plastic is a modified version of general purpose polystyrene. During the manufacturing of polystyrene, rubber is added to create high impact polystyrene (HIPS). This results in higher impact resistance and increases the impact strength of the polymer.

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Get a fast and free quote

Get a fast FREE quote for plastic waste collection

  • Free quote within 1 hr
  • Any type of waste plastic
  • FREE bins and delivery
  • We cover all of the UK