TerraCycle revs up disposable glove and mask recycling with automaker partnership

24 Aug 2020 --- Subaru of America has expanded its recycling partnership with TerraCycle to include personal protective equipment (PPE) in response to rising COVID-19-induced waste. The company, which markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a vast US network, will adopt TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Boxes to collect disposable masks and gloves across more than 20 offices nationwide, including ports, regional training centers and the automaker’s headquarters in Camden, NJ. Zero Waste Boxes provide a convenient recycling solution for all types of single-use PPE, which are not recyclable through conventional recycling facilities.

The new collection efforts will divert improperly discarded PPE from landfills and incinerators. To properly collect and recycle PPE waste, each participating Subaru corporate location will utilize the following Zero Waste Boxes:

• Disposable Gloves Zero Waste Box – to recycle vinyl, nitrile, and latex gloves.
• Disposable Masks Zero Waste Box – to recycle surgical and industrial face masks.

When full, the boxes will be returned to TerraCycle for processing and the collected 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 items ranging from reusable shipping pallets to plastic lumber applications. Rubber manufacturers can use rubberized disposable gloves in low-grade applications for products such as matting.Zero Waste Boxes provide a convenient recycling solution for all types of single-use PPE.

Through the Subaru Loves the Earth recycling program, created in partnership with TerraCycle, participating Subaru retailers nationwide use Zero Waste Boxes to encourage customers, employees and community partners to recycle waste streams that are commonly thought of as hard-to-recycle, including snack wrappers/bags, disposable cups, lids, plastic straws, as well as coffee and creamer capsules. The automaker encourages customers to further their commitments to sustainability by individually collecting these waste streams and bringing them to a local participating Subaru retailer.

PPE waste mounts up
According to the Ocean Conservancy, the global population is set to consume 129 billion face masks and 65 billion single-use gloves per month due to the ongoing COVID-19 regulations. Concerningly, most face masks are made from conventionally unrecyclable polypropylene. University College London (UCL), UK, estimates that 124,000 tons of plastic waste will be generated in the UK if each person uses one single-use mask per day for a year.

Likewise, WWF warns that even 10 million binned face masks equates to 40,000 kg of plastic waste. UCL has recommended installing designated disposal sites for used masks in public streets and increased uptake of reusable face masks.Disposable masks are typically made from #5 polypropylene and can be turned into reusable shipping pallets and plastic lumber applications.

“At TerraCycle, our mission has always been to eliminate waste, recycle the unrecyclable and use our innovative business solutions to minimize human impact on the planet,” comments Tom Szaky, TerraCycle Founder and CEO. "By spearheading this initiative to reduce the impact of PPE waste on the environment, Subaru continues to demonstrate its shared commitment to a greener future."

“At Subaru, our commitment to maintaining a safe work environment is as strong as our dedication to protecting and preserving our environment by keeping it clean,” adds Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Subaru of America. “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.”

TerraCycle targets team-ups
In other TerraCycle news, the waste management pioneer initiated Phase Two of its zero-waste Loop program with UK supermarket Tesco: retailer integration. In mainland England, Scotland and Wales, consumers can now conveniently order and responsibly consume over 150 food and household products that arrive in durable, reusable packaging as part of the supermarket’s online refillable container trial.

Terracycle also partnered with UK cheese manufacturer Cathedral City to give life to the country’s first recycling program for flexible film cheese packaging – no matter the brand. The program’s objective is to encourage consumers to collect their Cathedral City cheese packaging and responsibly dispose of it at one of the scheme’s public access drop off points across the UK.

Edited by Joshua Poole