Polystyrene is widely used in packaging, insulation, and disposable items due to its lightweight and cushioning properties. It is classified as Class 6 plastic and is non-biodegradable, polluting the environment when discarded in landfills or incinerated.

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In Ladakh, the fate of polystyrene waste is unclear. While it is collected in municipal trucks, what happens to it thereafter is not certain. Being fragile, polystyrene breaks and gets contaminated when mixed with the general stream of municipal waste, making recovery a challenging task. Further, it is not economically viable to transport recovered polystyrene waste to recyclers outside Ladakh, as it is a lightweight and voluminous material and is likely to fetch marginal revenue. These factors disincentives proper management of polystyrene waste, and it may ultimately be burnt or dumped in the open. Once dumped, polystyrene can easily be carried away by wind, further polluting the environment.

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Polystyrene is a 100% recyclable form of plastic. It can be converted into intermediate products such as ingots and pellets, which can be used to manufacture items like photo frames and wall panels. It can also be repurposed and reused—for instance, as insulation boards due to its thermal non-conducting properties.