Kimberly-Clark Professional introduces recycling service for restroom dispensers

Hygiene solutions company Kimberly-Clark Professional is launching Thrive service, allowing US and Canadian businesses to recycle their used restroom dispensers.

The global health and hygiene company diverts used restroom dispensers from landfills through collection and recycling.

Thrive aims to assist businesses in reducing their waste and tracking their environmental sustainability progress. According to Kimberly-Clark Professional, the service will remove barriers for commercial customers who have concerns about disposing of the old and unwanted dispensers.

“Our customers are looking for practical, measurable ways to meet their sustainability goals,” says Susan Gambardella, president at Kimberly-Clark Professional. 

“Thrive offers a solution that’s easy to implement and makes a tangible, positive impact toward waste reduction.”

Disposal and processing 

As part of the Thrive Dispenser Service, Kimberly-Clark Professional members will collect the used plastic dispensers directly from the customer’s location and prepare them for shipment. 

Customers can then send the dispensers to one of Kimberly-Clark Professional’s sustainability partner facilities for processing. They can also leave dry, leftover paper products inside the dispensers. 

At the processing facility, the dispensers are sorted, shredded, and transformed into a fossil fuel alternative used to produce cement and building materials.

Kimberly-Clark Professional coordinates the installation of new Scott, Kleenex, or Icon dispensers to replace old units.

Thrive is a traceable service that allows businesses to quantify, track, and report landfill diversion metrics. Customers are eligible for an Environmental Impact Achievement Certificate. 

Qualified products are eligible for landfill diversion so long as they are non-hazardous after use, as classified by federal, state, and local regulations.

Recently, Suzano and Kimberly-Clark agreed to form a US$3.4 billion global company to manufacture and distribute tissue products across more than 70 countries. 

Kimberly-Clark became the first UK consumer goods maker to sign long-term green hydrogen deals, investing £125 million (US$168.4 million).