Saf-T-Gard Stops Nearly 40 Tons of Scrap Rubber from Reaching Landfills
Industrial safety equipment supplier protects both workers and the environment by recycling electrical safety rubber insulating products that have reached the end of their service life
August 14, 2019 – Northbrook, IL – Saf-T-Gard’s Voltgard® Test Lab, the largest, independent, NAIL4PET-accredited test lab for rubber insulating electrical safety equipment, demonstrated its ongoing commitment to personal safety by recently preventing 40 tons of out-of-service rubber goods from further polluting landfills. Instead, these scrap rubber products will get to experience a second life by being recycled into playground surfacing material, equestrian arena footing and as rubber filler for hundreds of other applications.
The United States generates more than 250 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) every year according to the latest reports from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Unfortunately, only 34 percent gets recycled, and that rate drops even lower to roughly 26 percent once composting is removed from the equation. This figure is especially concerning considering that 75 percent of America’s waste is recyclable, and if we were to achieve this rate, the effect would be comparable to removing 50 million passenger cars from U.S. roads.
Currently, there are more than 2,000 landfills open in the United States. This presents several serious environmental issues in that not only are the landfills running out of space, but underneath their makeup lay toxins, greenhouse gasses and leachate. Landfills also release chemicals like methane that creep into the ecosystem as the garbage decomposes. These harmful chemicals evaporate into the air and leak into the ground, which pollute our soil and threaten our water supply. Additionally, processing garbage emits carbon, which has been significantly linked to the depletion of the ozone layer and global warming. Moreover, landfills also pose significant financial implications, as it costs $50 per ton on average to send trash to the landfill, whereas it only costs $30 per ton to recycle.
Given the unique properties of rubber materials, the overall use of rubber for a large number of applications is constantly on the rise and becoming an ever-increasing focus of concern. The safety equipment industry is not exempt, as rubber materials are widely used in gloves and other personal protective equipment, most notably rubber insulating gloves, sleeves and blankets utilized by electrical utilities, contractors, telecom companies, municipalities, first responders and industrial facilities.
Regulatory standards require regular inspection and periodic retesting of electrical protective equipment prior to use. Saf-T-Gard is uniquely qualified to service dielectric testing needs while meeting all applicable industry standards with its Voltgard Test Lab, which is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment for the complete testing and recertification of rubber gloves, sleeves, blankets, line hose, jumpers, grounding sets, hot sticks, and more. The Voltgard Test Lab collects tons of rubber insulating products that must be removed from service because they are no longer safe to use. In order to help preserve our environment, the company regularly recycles its scrap rubber, thereby helping to sustain the ecosystem and save money.
“Saf-T-Gard strives to keep everyone safe, and that practice extends to the environment as well,” said Richard Rivkin, President and CEO, Saf-T-Gard International. “Our recycling efforts do not stop with the Voltgard Test Lab. Some of our low-cost knitted work gloves are manufactured from purified, re-spun yarn that consists of recycled textiles from apparel production and recycled plastics from water and soft drink bottles. In our warehouse operations, we also bale our scrap corrugated cardboard to send to a recycler, and we purchase corrugated shipping cartons with a high recycled content. As a family-owned company now in its fourth generation of ownership, we understand the importance of and are very passionate about preventing further landfill pollution for future generations. As part of our legacy, we will continue to implement “greener” business practices that benefit both industrial workers and the environment.”
About Saf-T-Gard International, Inc.
Located in Northbrook, Illinois, Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. is a privately-held family-owned and operated global supplier of industrial safety products. Founded in 1936 as Latex Glove Company, Saf‑T-Gard quickly evolved into a predominant manufacturer, distributor, importer and exporter of personal protective equipment, environmental safety, facility safety, first aid, public safety and electrical safety. Today, Saf-T-Gard carries on the tradition that was started more than 80 years ago: bringing customers the products, training and service they need to keep employees safe in the workplace. Saf-T-Gard is an active member of the National Safety Council (NSC), International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and SafetyNetwork.me™ and provides thousands of solutions from recognized brand names in addition to its renowned line of proprietary brands. Saf‑T‑Gard operates the Voltgard® Test Lab, the largest, independent, NAIL4PET-accredited test lab for rubber insulating products in the United States. To learn more, please visit www.saftgard.com or call 1-800-548-GARD (4273).
Contact for additional information:
Lisa Seminara
Marketing Director
847-291-1600, ext. 2667
