TerraCycle has launched VetCycle, a program designed to provide veterinary professionals with recycling options for hard-to-recycle waste commonly found in veterinary clinics, animal shelters, and labs. The new program offers recycling services for items like personal protective equipment (PPE); plastic food packaging; pet products like leashes, muzzles, and brushes; general cleaning supplies; and more.
"A busy day at a vet clinic or shelter results in a tremendous amount of waste," said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle. "Most pet products aren't recyclable municipally, so we developed the VetCycle solution to recycle the waste that would have been destined for the landfill."
According to the Pet Sustainability Coalition, a nonprofit organization working with companies in the pet industry to employ sustainable practices, an estimated 300 million pounds of pet food and treat bags are generated in the U.S. every year. Over 99 percent of those bags aren't recycled. To address this typically non-recyclable waste, VetCycle utilizes TerraCycle's Zero Waste Box program to recycle the most common waste streams found in veterinary settings, including:
- Pet food packaging
- Pet products
- Plastic packaging
- Disposable gloves
- Disposable masks
- Safety equipment and protective gear
- Cleaning supplies and accessories
- Synthetic disinfectant wipes
How VetCycle works
- Order: Veterinary staff order boxes that suit their needs which are shipped directly to their locations.
- Collect: VetCycle boxes are placed in designated high-traffic areas throughout the office to collect the various categories of waste.
- Ship: Once full, the veterinary staff sends their box to TerraCycle via the pre-affixed UPS shipping label.
- Recycle: The waste is saved from landfills and recycled by TerraCycle.
