Recycled gloves project brings sustainable benefits

At Rio Tinto Coal Australia, we continuously look for ways to reduce our waste and limit our environmental footprint.

Bengalla mine has been recognised for an innovative project, helping to reduce landfill and lower costs.

The project to reuse and recycle gloves was developed by Bengalla Environmental Specialist Sharon Green in cooperation with the Flagstaff Group, and won a competition run by Thiess as part of National Recycling Week.

"About 70 million industrial gloves are imported into Australia each year, with most ending up as landfill," Ms Green said.

"We developed a system whereby maintenance crews collect used gloves, which are sent to a not-for-profit organisation, Flagstaff, to be washed, dried, checked for quality and repackaged, ready to be used again.

"The system, currently on trial, will lower the costs of purchasing new gloves and mean fewer gloves end up in landfill. It will also help support the Flagstaff group, which provides meaningful employment opportunities to people with a disability."

General Manager Health, Safety and Environment Rory Gordon said projects such as these demonstrate how simple changes can create long term benefits.

"The recycled gloves project means Bengalla employees will have a great, hygienic product that costs less than buying the product new," Mr Gordon said.

"By developing innovative solutions we are not only minimising our environmental footprint, we are also boosting our economic sustainability and helping the community."