Hourglass International has launched a recycling programme designed to divert disposable personal protective equipment (PPE) from landfill across regulated industries, including cleanroom manufacturing, healthcare and laboratory operations.
The Colorado-based company was established in 2005, originally as a manufacturer and distributor of specialty PPE, such as a HandPro glove Line and Hourglass Controlled face masks.
They were specifically known for their “accelerator-free nitrile globes, which eliminate the chemicals typically responsible for contact dermatitis skin allergies.
Now, with the launch of this initiative, named RenuCycle, the company will also provide a collection-and-return system for used PPE.
The recycling system will allow organisations to consolidate waste streams and send materials for recycling without changing existing suppliers or product specifications.
"The launch of RenuCycle reflects something we've believed for a long time, that the PPE industry has a responsibility beyond the point of sale," said Zach Atwood of Hourglass International.
The programme is structured around dedicated collection containers supplied through distribution partners.
Businesses can order collection containers through a partnered distributor, fill them with used PPE, and send them back for recycling.
Units are delivered flat-packed, assembled on site, and returned once filled, supporting integration into existing operational workflows in controlled environments.
What materials are accepted for PPE recycling?
Accepted materials include commonly used disposable PPE such as nitrile, latex and vinyl gloves, single-use masks including N95 respirators, coveralls, gowns, bouffant caps and shoe covers, along with certain nonwoven packaging materials.
Items contaminated with hazardous chemicals or biohazards are excluded.
According to the company, the programme is designed to address a gap in recycling infrastructure for PPE, which is typically manufactured from polymers such as polypropylene and nitrile and is not widely processed through conventional recycling systems.
Who can participate in the PPE recycling programme?
RenuCycle is described as brand-agnostic, allowing facilities to participate regardless of PPE manufacturer, a feature intended to support adoption in environments with multi-vendor supply chains.
The programme is available through distributors in the United States and Canada.
This model differs from many other PPE recycling programmes, which are often limited to specific PPE manufacturing companies rather than for any healthcare or cleanroom-related business.
As an example, in 2024 Ansell snapped up Kimberly-Clark’s Personal Protective Equipment business, which manufactures and recycles non-hazardous PPE through its already established RightCycle Programme.
The initiative specifically targets items that are traditionally difficult to recycle, such as nitrile gloves and single-use apparel, however there are specific eligibility requirements that a business must meet to join.
