Listen to this article

Disposable gloves are one of the most basic health care products out there, but many people don’t realise the importance of disposing of them correctly. This simple guide shows you how to dispose of disposable gloves in an environmentally friendly and safe way that will keep you and your family healthy. This can be applied to almost any health care product – from syringes to IV bags to bandages and more.

What are disposable gloves made of?

When considering how to dispose of disposable gloves, it is important to know what kinds of gloves you are using. The materials used will have a big impact on how you properly dispose of them. For example, latex gloves can be tossed in with your regular garbage because they do not contain any chemicals that can affect our environment negatively. 

Nitrile or vinyl disposable gloves are both made from plastic, however, these plastics do break down much faster than latex and other alternatives so they can go in your regular waste. Your use-type of a glove (such as mechanics or food service) also determines whether it should be discarded as hazardous waste or non-hazardous waste. Always check with your supervisor before disposing of disposables to make sure you don’t accidentally put something harmful into our world!

Are they Recyclable?

A major benefit of disposable gloves is that they can be disposed of quickly and easily, but not all varieties are recyclable. Check with your local government to learn what facilities are available in your area to recycle disposable gloves, or drop them off at a healthcare facility. 

Before recycling, check with a medical professional to ensure you know what facilities are most appropriate for your personal health. If you’re unsure whether your particular type of disposable glove is recyclable or not, check with a medical professional or other authority on health care products before attempting to recycle them yourself.

What can I do with my used gloves?

Most medical waste companies can dispose of used gloves in a safe, eco-friendly manner. 

• Contact your local medical waste disposal company for details. 
• If you’re worried about keeping them safely, wrap them in a newspaper or put them inside a plastic bag and drop it into your household trash bin; just make sure to let your trash collector know what’s inside so they don’t throw it out with regular garbage! 
• Since we may never really know what happens to our garbage once it leaves our homes, some people are turning to more environmentally friendly alternatives.

Take Away

Disposable gloves are a common part of first aid kits, but unfortunately, some people don’t know how to dispose of them properly. If you want to ensure that your gloves aren’t harming wildlife or getting into our water supply, these are some tips for you! Proper disposal is vital for keeping our planet healthy!