MPE Develops Recycling System

Schererville, IL–Miller`s Precision Enterprises, Inc. (MPE) has developed a recycling program for used DuPont Tyvek cleanroom garments. Cleanroom workers can dispose of their garments and MPE collects and recycles them. MPE pays the company that provides the Tyvek garments for recycling.

Since 1987, MPE has been purchasing DuPont Tyvek cleanroom and clean area garments from pharmaceutical, electronic, biotechnology, optical and laser industries. Now, MPE is supplying collection containers outside of a company`s cleanroom where workers can dispose of their Tyvek garments. Only garments that have not been exposed to hazardous substances are collected.

Once the containers are full, they are shipped to MPE at MPE`s cost. At MPE, the garments and cleaned and disinfected using a proprietary wash cycle. MPE then sorts, counts and reprocesses the garments for resale to non-hazardous dry particulate markets. MPE also individually checks all garments for holes, tears and other irregularities. Any damaged items are sent to a facility where they are melted down to recover the polyethylene for reuse. Says MPE`s CEO Mike Miller: “Our reprocessing system enables cleanroom managers to help save landfill space and reduce disposal fees and turn Tyvek waste into a source of revenue.” n