Many hands make light work of recycling effort

Coal & Allied has been recognised for its efforts to reduce the millions of discarded industrial gloves being dumped in landfill.

About 70 million industrial gloves are imported into Australia each year with most ending up as waste, but Coal & Allied's Bengalla Mine aims to change that with a new programme to recycle its used gloves.

The programme was recently recognised with an award from Thiess for National Recycling Week and, after finalising transport issues, will move to full-time use.

In partnership with NSW not-for-profit organisation the Flagstaff Group, used gloves are washed, dried, checked for damage and repackaged for use again.

The programme also helps Flagstaff to provide employment opportunities for people with a disability who recycle the gloves.

Bengalla Mine Environmental Specialist Sharon Green said Coal & Allied, the Flagstaff Group and the environment all benefited from the programme.

"The system currently being implemented will lower the costs of purchasing new gloves and mean fewer gloves end up in waste," Ms Green said.

"At the same time it supports the Flagstaff Group, and we're pleased this gives them the opportunity to offer meaningful employment to people with disabilities."

Coal & Allied employs about 200 people at Bengalla Mine, and the recycling programme has already returned 1200 pairs of gloves which would otherwise have been discarded.

Flagstaff Business Development Manager Ron Cooper said the organisation appreciated working with NSW businesses, as it enabled Flagstaff to support the 250 people with a disability which it employs.

ENDS

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Nathan Scholz
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