[willowman]

Just renovating the bathroom and new cabinets etc come surrounded by polystyrene pacaging, the sort that comes out in blocks.
Been racking my brains to think of a way to recycle, but to no avail.

Has anyone any ideas?

The blocks are pretty big and will take up a lot of space in the wheelie bin, do you think I could put them through the garden shredder?

If I did, could I use the resulting bits for anything?

[GrannieAnnie]

Mmmm, probably if you put polystyrene through the shredder, it'll go everywhere and you'll have a white garden!!!

Sometimes I break bits of polystyrene up and us it in the bottom of very large pots to bulk out a bit as they use up a lot of compost.  You don't really need all that compost for nice healthy plants.

[savbo]

and if you just want to get more of them in the bin, hit them with a mallet to de-expand them!

[veggirl]

What about using slabs to line a cold frame?

[Bluedave]

yep, as veggirl said you could use them as some form of insulation for something.

Other than that we use them for two other things - break them up and use them as bean bag filling or donate then to a local games workshop or other gaming club - they turn them into model hills for use on the battlefield! lol

[NigelB]

I always keep a couple of chunky pieces of polystyrene in the greenhouse to use when potting up or moving any of the large cacti I keep in there.
Using them saves me getting multiple punctures all over my hands and arms, and saves the missus from having to listen as I alternately cry out in pain and curse every living cactus on earth.....   
Works a treat.

[tode]

Nail em to your sofa: the cats can use em as a scratching post    

[willowman]

Thanks all.
Some ideas to get me thinking there.
I did realise this morning that if I put them through the shredder then the static electricity would cause the bits to stick to the shredder and more than likely block it.
I like the idea of putting it in the bottom of pots, takes up space but is nice and light.

[hamstergbert]

Some years ago experimented with a small polystyrene box (internally about the same length and breadth as a typical paperback book, depth around 3 - 4 inches) .  Forget what it came wrapped around, something electronic and fragile I suppose.  Filled it with multi purpose compost (already warm having been in the central heated room for a day or two) and sowed park dahlia seeds in it, lid loosely on and left in a much cooler room.  Took something like 12 hours (not a typo) for the seedleaves to be showing! 

So I would agree a sensible use would be lining cold frame as VegGirl suggested.  I use sheets of it to stand the tray that holds four seed trays on, to reduce the ground chill.  Alternative may be to make your polybox and use to to kickstart stuff such as winter salads in the house before hardening off to the greenhouse when big enough.

[stentman]

Lining a cold frame as others have said if the pieces are big enough they would be just the job. 

[Trillium]

This is what I'd do with useful sized pieces, even use special tape if necessary to piece them:

http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/cold-frame-insulate/