Nitrile Glove Recycling NZ – GloveCycle Programme
Give Your Used Nitrile Gloves Another Purpose
Single-use nitrile gloves are essential in thousands of New Zealand workplaces — but after they've done their job, they can create a significant waste stream.
Hygiene Direct GloveCycle provides businesses across New Zealand with a practical way to divert eligible used Hytec nitrile gloves from landfill and give the material another purpose.
Used gloves collected through the programme are processed at a specialised facility and repurposed into aggregate material used in the manufacture of concrete products such as pavers, blocks and concrete slabs.
It's a simple way to help reduce your organisation's waste to landfill while continuing to use the disposable nitrile gloves your people need.
How Does GloveCycle Work?
The idea is simple:
1. Purchase approved Hytec Blue Regular 3g Nitrile Gloves from Hygiene Direct.
2. Collect your eligible used gloves separately from other waste.
3. Hygiene Direct arranges collection.
4. The collected gloves are diverted from landfill.
5. The gloves are processed and repurposed into aggregate material used in concrete products.
Only approved Hytec nitrile gloves supplied through Hygiene Direct can be accepted. Other gloves and general waste must not be placed in the collection because they can contaminate the material and prevent it from being processed.
You can also view our nitrile glove range online.
A Solution for Businesses Large and Small
GloveCycle is designed so businesses don't necessarily need to use huge quantities of nitrile gloves to participate.
Smaller Volume Users
For customers purchasing fewer than three cartons per order, we can provide a GloveCycle cut-out lid designed to fit an empty Hytec glove carton.
Simply:
- Fit the GloveCycle lid to your empty glove carton.
- Place eligible used Hytec nitrile gloves into the carton.
- Once full, seal the carton.
- Contact Hygiene Direct to arrange collection.
No separate bin liner is required for this option.
It's a simple way for smaller workplaces to participate without needing a dedicated collection station.
Larger Volume Users
For workplaces using larger quantities of nitrile gloves, dedicated Rubbermaid Slim Jim 80L collection bins with clear liners can be positioned at convenient locations around your site.
Your team places used eligible Hytec nitrile gloves into the dedicated bins and consolidates them ready for collection.
Collected gloves can then be weighed, allowing the amount of glove waste being diverted from landfill to be measured.
Measure the Difference You're Making
For larger-volume programme users, GloveCycle isn't simply about saying you're reducing waste.
You can measure it.
Site-specific reporting can show the amount of used nitrile glove waste your organisation has diverted from landfill.
This can provide useful supporting information for your organisation's:
- Sustainability initiatives
- Waste-reduction programmes
- Environmental reporting
- ESG initiatives
- Internal sustainability communications
- Staff engagement
Real Results – 1,171 Gloves Diverted From Landfill in One Month
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre trialled the Circular Nitrile Glove Recycling Programme with its Venue Presentation team.
The result after its first month:
1,171 gloves diverted from landfill
Te Pae publicly shared the result and explained that the collected gloves are repurposed into aggregate material that can be used in products such as pavers, bricks and concrete slabs.
They also encouraged other organisations looking for simple ways to reduce waste and support a circular economy to find out more about the programme through Hygiene Direct.
That's a real New Zealand workplace demonstrating what can be achieved simply by changing what happens to eligible nitrile gloves after they've been used.
See Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre's GloveCycle results on Facebook
What Happens to the Used Nitrile Gloves?
Once collected, the gloves are transported for specialised processing.
Rather than simply being disposed of as general waste, the material is repurposed and converted into aggregate.
That aggregate can then be incorporated into concrete products including:
- Pavers
- Blocks
- Concrete slabs
- Other concrete products
So gloves that would otherwise form part of a workplace's landfill waste stream can instead contribute material to another useful product.
This programme is another practical part of Hygiene Direct's wider commitment to reducing waste and improving environmental outcomes. You can read more about our approach in our Environmental Policy.
Which Gloves Can Be Used With GloveCycle?
GloveCycle is specifically designed for approved Hytec nitrile gloves.
Only eligible Hytec branded nitrile gloves should be placed into GloveCycle collection boxes or bins. General rubbish, paper, other glove brands or other materials can contaminate the collection.
Hytec Blue Regular 3g Nitrile Gloves
Hygiene Direct's Hytec Blue Regular 3g Nitrile Gloves are eligible for the GloveCycle programme.
View Hytec Blue Regular 3g Nitrile Gloves
Or browse our Nitrile Gloves range.
Is There a Charge to Participate in GloveCycle?
There is no charge for the glove diversion service itself.
Participation requires the ongoing purchase of eligible Hytec nitrile gloves through Hygiene Direct.
Larger sites using dedicated collection stations will require the appropriate bins, clear liners and signage.
Collection arrangements can vary according to your location and glove volumes, so talk to your local Hygiene Direct team about the best setup for your workplace.
Who Is GloveCycle Suitable For?
GloveCycle could be particularly useful for New Zealand organisations that regularly use disposable nitrile gloves, including:
- Commercial cleaning companies
- Convention and event venues
- Manufacturing businesses
- Food production facilities
- Hospitality operations
- Education facilities
- Laboratories
- Engineering and mechanical workplaces
- Healthcare and allied-health workplaces where the gloves are eligible for the programme
- Facilities management operations
- Other commercial and professional workplaces
Important: GloveCycle does not replace any regulated waste-disposal requirements. Gloves that must be disposed of through an existing regulated waste stream, such as infectious waste, must continue to be handled through the appropriate disposal method.
Why Choose GloveCycle?
Reduce glove waste going to landfill
Give eligible used nitrile gloves a pathway away from general landfill disposal.
Give used material another purpose
Collected gloves are repurposed into aggregate used in concrete products.
Measure your progress
Larger-volume users can receive reporting showing the amount of glove waste diverted from landfill.
Engage your team
Dedicated collection points make it easy for employees to participate in a visible workplace sustainability initiative.
Keep the process simple
Hygiene Direct supplies the eligible gloves and helps organise the collection system.
Available nationwide
GloveCycle is available to Hygiene Direct customers throughout New Zealand.
Help Reduce Your Nitrile Glove Waste
If your organisation uses nitrile gloves every day, those individual gloves can quickly add up to a significant waste stream.
GloveCycle gives eligible used Hytec nitrile gloves another pathway.
Whether you use a few cartons or operate a large workplace, talk to Hygiene Direct about setting up a GloveCycle collection system appropriate for your organisation.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact Hygiene Direct about joining GloveCycle
Or start by viewing the Hytec Blue Regular 3g Nitrile Gloves used with the programme.