Subaru of America Inc. has launched a new initiative aimed at recycling personal protective equipment, in partnership with waste management company TerraCycle.
The Camden-based carmaker said the new program, created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related use of items like disposable masks and gloves, expands on its current partnership with the Trenton-based firm.
The goal, Subaru said in a news release, is to keep improperly discarded PPE out of landfills and incinerators. The automaker will collect PPE at more than 20 offices nationwide, including ports, training centers and its Camden headquarters.
“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,” Alan Bethke, senior vice president, marketing, said in a prepared statement. “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.”
PPE are not recyclable through conventional facilities. The Zero Waste Boxes will be filled and returned to TerraCycle for processing and eventual conversion into other products, from plastic shipping pallets to low-rubber matting.
“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,” Tom Szaky, founder and CEO, said in a statement. “By spearheading this initiative to reduce the impact of PPE waste on the environment, Subaru continues to demonstrate their shared commitment to a greener future.”
