Subaru proclaims a brand new recycling initiative with TerraCycle
Subaru and TerraCycle are expanding their partnership to offer safe recycling solutions for PPE waste
Subaru of America, Inc. announced a new recycling initiative to recycle personal protective equipment (PPE) waste in response to the increase in waste from the COVID-19 pandemic. The new initiative is an extension of the car manufacturer's existing recycling collection partnership with TerraCycle, a world leader in the collection and reuse of complex waste streams.
The new collection efforts divert improperly disposed PPE from landfills and incinerators. Subaru will use TerraCycle's Zero Waste Boxes to collect disposable masks and gloves in more than 20 offices across the country, including ports, regional training centers and the automaker's headquarters in Camden, NJ.
"At Subaru, our commitment to maintaining a safe work environment is as strong as our commitment to protecting and preserving our environment through cleanliness," said Alan Bethke, senior vice president of marketing for Subaru of America, Inc.
"This expansion of our years of working with TerraCycle enables us to wear PPE responsibly while promoting Subaru Love Promise's commitment to reducing landfills and adopting smart environmental practices, simply because it is the right thing to do."
Zero Waste Boxes offer a practical recycling solution for all types of single-use PPE that cannot be recycled with conventional recycling systems. By placing Zero Waste Boxes in offices across the country, Subaru employees can responsibly dispose of their protective gear instead of throwing items on the floor.
In order to properly collect and recycle PPE waste, each participating Subaru company location uses the following Zero Waste Boxes: Disposable Gloves Zero Waste Box – for recycling vinyl, nitrile and latex gloves and disposable masks Zero Waste Box – for recycling surgical and industrial face masks.
When the boxes are full they are sent back to TerraCycle for processing, and the waste collected is cleaned, melted and reshaped to make new products. Disposable masks are usually made from # 5 polypropylene plastic and can be converted into a variety of items ranging from reusable shipping pallets to plastic-wood applications. Rubberized disposable gloves are used by rubber manufacturers in inferior applications for products such as mats.
"At TerraCycle, our mission has always been to eliminate waste, recycle unrecycled and leverage our innovative business solutions to minimize human impact on the planet," said Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO of TerraCycle. "With this initiative to reduce the impact of PPE waste on the environment, Subaru continues to demonstrate its shared commitment to a greener future."
As part of the Subaru Loves the Earth recycling program, developed in partnership with TerraCycle, participating Subaru retailers across the country are using Zero Waste Boxes to encourage customers, employees and partners in the community to recycle waste streams that are generally considered difficult to recycle, including Snack packaging / bags, disposable cups, lids, plastic straws and coffee and milk capsules.
In addition, Subaru encourages customers to further their personal commitment to sustainability by individually collecting these waste streams and bringing them to a participating Subaru local dealer.
