Medical masks, N95 respirators, and disposable gowns are engineered as single use devices. Their layered filtration traps particles, droplets, and bioaerosols within the material. Once contaminated, these products lose filtration efficacy and retain embedded pathogens. As disinfection may compromise the device's structural integrity, PPE must be safely disposed of after a single use. The challenge is scale: billions of items enter biohazard waste streams with limited recycling options.
In 2021, Vitacore, a British Columbia based company, launched Canada's first end-to-end PPE recycling program using robotics and proprietary polypropylene extraction technology. The system eliminates human exposure to biohazards by automating the entire process - from collection, shredding, and melting. This model created a breakthrough in how contaminated healthcare waste can be safely processed and upcycled.
Vitacore collects used masks, respirators, and gowns through specialized PPE recycling bins deployed across partner sites. When full, these bins are transported to their processing facility where the PPE is sanitized, sorted, shredded, and prepared for melting. Robotics handle the waste throughout ensuring worker safety. The processed plastic is converted into clean polypropylene pellets, which are repurposed into concrete reinforcement, textiles, and construction materials.
Vitacore's program has diverted more than 651,000 kilograms of PPE from landfills and incinerators since 2021. By turning single use medical waste into reusable raw material, the company has established a practical circular economy model for healthcare and public safety. Their recycling program now operates across three sectors: community, healthcare, and industrial organizations.
Vitacore is one of several Canadian innovators supported through HealthPRO Canada's Innovator Accelerator Program. This initiative showcases emerging technologies to healthcare decision makers and attracts venture capital investment. The program in partnership with the CAN Health Network helped accelerate Vitacore's visibility and scalability, enabling broader adoption of its PPE recycling model.
Vitacore's approach marks a significant shift in how highly regulated sectors can manage biohazardous waste. Through robotics, advanced sanitization, and a circular economy design, the company demonstrates that sustainability and safety can coexist - even for contaminated materials once considered unrecyclable. Their innovations continue to influence public safety, healthcare, industrial sectors, and environmental sustainability efforts across Canada and beyond.
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