Nitrile Glove Recycling Implementation Project

The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center conducted a waste audit of their main building in February 2013. Through the process of the waste audit it was found that single use non-hazardous gloves were 13% of the waste stream. The Zero Waste Illinois team explored multiple options to reduce and recycle the single use non-hazardous gloves. Kimberly Clark, a company that manufactures nitrile gloves, takes their gloves back to recycle into park benches, bike racks, etc. through their RightCycle program. ISTC piloted the use of the RightCycle program throughout its labs. After successfully integrating the glove recycling project within their labs, the ISTC’s Zero Waste Illinois team explored expanding this program to other departments on campus. University Housing showed considerable interest in exploring the glove recycling program for its dining operations. ISTC received a grant from the Student Sustainability Committee of $1940.81 to assist University Housing in implementing their own glove recycling program.University of Illinois Student Sustainability CommitteeOpe