Subaru of America has launched an initiative to recycle personal protective equipment (PPE) waste due to the increased use in these products during the pandemic.
The initiative is an expansion of the OEM’s existing recycling collection partnership with TerraCycle. It aims to ensure improperly discarded PPE does not end up in landfills and incinerators, deploying instead TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Boxes for masks and gloves. This is meant for more than 20 offices across the U.S.
“This expansion of our years-long work with TerraCycle allows us to responsibly wear PPE while furthering the Subaru Love Promise commitment to reduce landfill trash and engage in smart environmental practices, simply because it is the right thing to do,” said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Subaru of America.
The Disposable Gloves Zero Waste Box are meant to recycle vinyl, nitrile, and latex gloves, while the Disposable Masks Zero Waste Box recycle surgical and industrial face masks.
When the boxes are full they are returned to TerraCycle for processing. The OEM said the waste will be cleaned, melted, and remolded to make new products.
“Disposable masks are typically made from #5 polypropylene plastic and can be turned into a variety of items ranging from reusable shipping pallets to plastic lumber applications,” said the OEM in a news release.
For the rubberized disposable gloves, they can be used by rubber manufacturers in low-grade applications. This would be for products such as matting.
