Summary: TerraCycle has launched ClinicCycle, a nationwide recycling program designed to help healthcare facilities and dental offices of all sizes manage and recycle hard-to-process waste, such as clear aligners, PPE, plastic packaging, and cleaning supplies, in an environmentally responsible way.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. healthcare sector generates approximately 1.7 million tons of plastic waste annually, much of which ends up in landfills or incinerators.
  • ClinicCycle provides Zero Waste Boxes that allow dental facilities to collect, return, and recycle various disposable materials, including PPE and oral care waste.
  • The program ensures collected waste is processed into raw materials for new products, helping healthcare providers maintain sustainability without compromising hygiene standards.

TerraCycle, a global provider of sustainability solutions, has introduced ClinicCycle, a national recycling solution designed for healthcare facilities of all sizes, from private practices and dental offices to urgent care centers and specialized medical clinics. The program offers a way to recycle complex waste streams commonly produced in medical environments, including personal protective equipment (PPE), plastic packaging, break room waste, and cleaning supplies.

Addressing Medical Waste Challenges

Each year, the U.S. healthcare sector produces approximately 1.7 million tons of plastic waste, much of which is discarded in landfills or incinerated. ClinicCycle provides a solution, enabling healthcare facilities to responsibly manage hard-to-recycle waste while upholding stringent hygiene and patient care standards.

A Convenient Recycling Option

“Medical waste is a growing challenge, and healthcare professionals need convenient solutions that align with their commitment to care,” said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle. “ClinicCycle is an easy way to ensure that essential materials from a variety of medical settings are properly recycled.”

ClinicCycle Options

From single-use PPE to plastic packaging and disposable supplies, ClinicCycle offers specialized Zero Waste Boxes to help all types of healthcare facilities responsibly recycle a wide range of waste materials, including clear aligners, oral care waste and packaging, disposable gloves, disposable masks, plastic packaging, break room separation, cleaning supplies and accessories, and an all-in-one option.

Collection and Recycling Process

Clinics order the appropriate ClinicCycle Zero Waste Box, place it in areas where waste is generated, and start collecting their hard-to-recycle materials. Once full, the box is sealed and returned to TerraCycle using the prepaid shipping label. The collected waste is then carefully sorted, cleaned, and processed into raw materials that can be used to create new products, ensuring clinic-generated waste is kept in circulation and out of landfills and incinerators.

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