OCL and Avena Group launch PPE recycling trial in Ipswich

OCL is partnering up with Avena Group to trial a new way of recycling and recovering used personal protective equipment (PPE) at The Mill, Ipswich. The trial aims to divert used workwear and safety equipment from landfill and will help the business assess whether the initiative could work across more of its construction sites.

“PPE is essential to keeping our people safe on site, and we want to take the same care over what happens to it when it reaches the end of its working life. The trial at The Mill gives us a chance to see how much used PPE we can divert from landfill and how we can make collection straightforward for our site teams. What we learn in Ipswich will help us decide how to introduce the scheme on other OCL projects.”

Rebecca Harris, SHEQ Director at OCL Facades

What will happen to the used PPE at The Mill, Ipswich?

The site team will set aside used hard hats, hi-vis clothing, gloves and safety boots for collection by Avena Group. Collected items will be sent for recycling or energy recovery, depending on the materials and how they can be processed.

The trial forms part of OCL’s review of how it manages PPE throughout its working life. By making collection part of the site’s waste management process, the team can plan for what happens to protective equipment once it reaches the end of its useful life.

Measuring the trial before a wider rollout

During the trial, OCL will track how much PPE is collected and how it is processed. The team will use the findings to understand how much material the scheme diverts from landfill, how it works day to day and whether it can be rolled out at other OCL sites, as part of our sustainability efforts in becoming carbon neutral.

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