Hard Hat Recycling

Kristin Brubaker

Assistant Sustainability Practice Coordinator

Whiting-Turner

LEEDuser Basic Member

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January 27, 2021

Hi Everyone,

Has anyone had success in finding organizations or programs that will recycle the hard hats? We are looking into options for recycling our expired hard hats that can no longer be used. Ideally, we would want to use a company with facilities across the country but we are open to any suggestions or ideas you all may have.

Thanks,

Kristin

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Conor McGuire

Director of Sustainability

Columbia

LEEDuser Basic Member

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Wed, 01/27/2021 - 21:16

We typically send such items to https://www.buildhealthinternational.org/about/ they also take construction materials, older hospital equipment that may be obsolte inthe US, etc. Great group, great cause.

Jennifer Taranto

Vice President of Sustainability, Global Services

STO Building Group

LEEDuser Basic Member

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Thu, 01/28/2021 - 02:14

AGC used to have hardhat recycling days. I looked it up and it seems to have been shortlived (circa 2013-2014) anyone know if they are still doing it? Apart from that, you may consider writing back to the company that manufactures the hats you purchase and see if they'll take them back. I'd love to hear if anyone else has a good answer for this. The internet says they are #2 recycled plastic and you'd just need to find a recycler that is willing to accept them - but that doesn't provide you with a single nationwide solution.

Jenelle Shapiro

LEEDuser Basic Member

8 thumbs up

Thu, 01/28/2021 - 17:01

We got our Safety Managers and Green Team Leaders to partner, and they led fun team building activities to turn them into flower pots (see attached)! Some of the projects partnered with a local school (pre-covid) and did the planting activity with the kids and let them take them home afterwards. This won't help with all the hats comapny-wide, but at least a start and something to build community and camaraderie across teams both internally and externally.

Ryan Hughes

Sustainability Manager

Structure Tone

LEEDuser Basic Member

0 thumbs up

Mon, 02/01/2021 - 20:49

Lendlease has explored options with TerraCycle and Rubicon/g² revolution. The cost for recycling was a bit higher than expected; see below:

Hardhat Recycling Pricing:
- TerraCycle: Zero Waste Pallet Bag (35"x35"x55") = $2,200.00 for 150 hard hats
- Rubicon & g² revolution: relies on waste-to-energy method of disposal
  - PPE Collection Box (13"x13"x29") = under $100/box and estimated 20 boxes needed for 150 items (flat rate includes S&H)
  - Bulk shipments using gayloard boxes = $0.30/lb for processing (transportation not included in price)