The hidden PPE waste problem on Australian worksites

Hard hats, safety glasses, respirators and gloves protect Australian workers every day. But once they’ve reached the end of their life, they often end up in landfills. While the construction and mining industries have made significant progress in recycling materials like concrete and steel, personal protective equipment (PPE) remains one of the industry’s most overlooked waste streams. 

So what’s the problem? 

Every year in Australia, over 25 million tonnes of building and demolition materials waste are produced, according to the National Waste Report 2022. While the sector has achieved an estimated resource recovery rate of 81% for many building materials, PPE presents a different challenge, with the recovery rate for plastics being the lowest at only 13% – a material commonly used in PPE. 

On busy worksites, PPE can easily be discarded alongside general waste. Unlike building materials that are separated into dedicated recycling streams, smaller items often end up at the bottom of skip bins, where they’re more difficult to be appropriately recovered. Adding to the challenge, many types of PPE have a relatively short lifespan.

Single-use items such as disposable gloves and respirators must be discarded after use, while reusable equipment can reach end of life more quickly due to exposure to UV, dirt, sweat, chemicals and harsh working conditions.

As construction and mining businesses look to improve resource recovery and reduce waste, PPE represents an opportunity to capture a valuable material stream that has traditionally been overlooked.

Why is PPE so hard to recycle?

PPE is considered a hard-to-recycle waste stream because it's a broad category of waste that can consist of different kinds of complex, composite materials such as hard and soft plastics, rubber, textiles and metals, which must be separated into individual material streams to be recycled.

Most kerbside recycling systems don't accept PPE because separating and processing these complex materials is often more expensive than the value of the recycled material. Unlike conventional recycling systems, TerraCycle partners with brands and organisations to fund specialist collection and recycling solutions, making it possible to recover materials that would otherwise be sent to landfills. Through dedicated recycling programs, building and mining sites can divert end-of-life PPE from landfill and increase their overall recycling rates.

How does TerraCycle recycle PPE?

TerraCycle has partnered with Industree Group and SafeStyle to establish recycling programs that provide greater access to recycling solutions for heavy-duty PPE at participating companies and worksites. These programs help keep safety waste out of landfills by providing on-site recycling boxes, which are managed by a designated recycling manager. 

Explore available solutions and accepted waste streams below:

EpiCycle by Industree Group - Safety glasses, gloves, P2 respirators

SafeStyle Recycling Program - Safety glasses

Other TerraCycle solutions - Hard hats, earplugs, hairnets and more via Zero Waste Box

Once the recycling boxes are filled with accepted waste, they are sent to one of TerraCycle’s local Material Recovery Facilities for processing. All materials are first cleaned and shredded. Metal components are smelted and formed for use in secondary metals manufacturing, while clean plastics are sorted and mixed to create recycled plastic blends. Depending on their composition, the raw material can be used to construct plastic lumber, composite decking, outdoor furniture, watering cans, plastic shipping pallets, and much more. 

Note: Like most other recycling services, TerraCycle cannot accept hazardous waste. Any items contaminated with silica dust or asbestos are classified as ‘hazardous’ and must be disposed of appropriately according to the relevant state or national procedures.

Your next PPE recycling steps

If you’re an innovative leader in the construction or mining sector, this is a great way to extend your positive impact and deliver on sustainability commitments. 

Check out EpiCycle by Industree Group and SafeStyle recycling programs, or get in touch with our team at anzbrandpartnerships@terracycle.com to learn more about how these programs can be set up at your worksite.