TerraCycle, a global recycling company, has launched VetCycle, a national recycling scheme through which veterinary practices can dispose of hard-to-recycle waste, such as personal protective equipment, plastic pet food packaging, medicine blister packs, pet products such as dog leads, muzzles and brushes, and general business waste. 

To use the service, you order recycling boxes to suite your needs, and then place them where it will be most convenient for staff to throw the rubbish in.

Once full, you send the box back to TerraCycle via UPS.

It is then saved from incineration or landfills and recycled by TerraCycle.

Once collected, products and packaging are sorted and separated by material composition.

The separated items are then cleaned, shredded, and made into new recycled products such as outdoor furniture and decking, playgrounds, benches, or watering cans.

Hannah James, Head of Environment, Social & Governance at VetPartners said: “We started using the Zero Waste Boxes at our practices during the pandemic to recycle the large volumes of PPE being used, and they were instantly popular with practice teams.

"We’re now recycling plastic packaging, pet food packaging and medicine blister packs through TerraCycle as well, and since 2020 we’ve saved over 14 tonnes of waste from landfill and incineration.

"The Zero Waste Boxes are an important feature of our sustainability strategy, providing a solution for much of the waste generated by veterinary practice that isn’t hazardous and yet isn’t widely accepted for recycling.”

www.vetcycle.co.uk

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vet nurses.