Sustainability Hub
What workwear and PPE can you return?
Take-back is a free of charge service for workwear and PPE you have bought from us, so we can recycle it. Acceptance is agreed by item and batch. Send us a list first and wait for us to confirm what we can take.
Leave manufacturer labels and safety markings intact for assessment.
If an item is missing from this guide, send us the type, model and prior use before including it.
By type of kit
What to include on your list
Use the notes below when you write your list. We still need to confirm what we can take before you bring anything in.
Clothing
Everyday uniforms. Ask about polos, shirts, fleeces, trousers, aprons, jackets, tunics and general-duty overalls.
Tell us which are clean surplus, still wearable, branded or worn out. Condition, branding and fabric affect the route.
Hi-vis and technical garments
Include the make, model or label where possible. Tell us about reflective tape, coatings, wear, known laundering history and prior use.
List flame-resistant, arc-rated, chemical-protective and other specialist garments separately.
Safety footwear
Count pairs and describe the condition. Boots, trainers and wellies contain different combinations of soles, uppers and toe caps.
Hard hats, glasses and face shields
Include model, age and condition, and flag any known impact. Materials, coatings and mixed components affect the route. Keep helmets separate.
Gloves and hearing protection
Group by type and material. Tell us what gloves were used for and flag single-use items or electronic hearing protection separately.
Ask us first
Respirators, filters, fall-arrest equipment, disposable PPE and suspected contaminated kit need separate discussion.
Keep them out of routine returns and follow your site’s handling procedure.
Reuse
Safe reuse of workwear and PPE
Clean surplus uniforms and serviceable everyday workwear may be suitable for reuse. Check the fabric, seams and fastenings and follow the care instructions.
Returned branded kit can only go back into use after company and staff identifiers have been fully removed.
Only equipment designed for reuse can be considered. A competent person needs to check the model, service history, condition, suitability for the intended task and the manufacturer’s inspection, cleaning, maintenance and retirement instructions.
Some specialist equipment needs assessment by the manufacturer or a qualified service provider.
A used harness with an uncertain history and a clean surplus sweatshirt need different decisions. Keep PPE out of protective use when its condition or history cannot be verified.
For reusable equipment with known exposure, establish what it was exposed to before considering cleaning or reuse.
If reuse is unsuitable, we assess whether the materials have an available recycling or recovery route. Keep suspected contaminated items out of routine returns.
Leave required labels and conformity markings in place and tell us about logos separately.
Follow the care label and manufacturer's instructions · HSENI PPE maintenance and use · HSE PPE maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Can surplus uniforms, polos and work trousers be reused?
Clean, wearable workwear may have useful life left. Fabric, seams, fastenings and condition matter. For returned branded kit, identifying marks must be completely removed before it can be considered for reuse.
What happens to worn-out shirts, fleeces or jackets?
Tell us which garments are worn out and what the labels say about their materials. Suitable material can be recovered for a product such as board. Mixed fibres, linings, coatings and fastenings can affect the available route. We’ll confirm what we can handle for your batch.
Can returned hi-vis clothing go back into use as PPE?
Only suitable reusable PPE should return to service after a competent person checks its condition and history under the manufacturer’s instructions. Tell us about the reflective tape, visible fabric, label and known wash history. Faded or damaged kit may need a different route. HSENI PPE guidance.
Can you take flame-resistant, arc-rated or chemical-protective clothing?
Ask before returning it. Give us the model, what it was used for, known exposure and condition. Specialist construction and possible contamination affect the options. Keep these items separate and leave safety labels intact. HSENI PPE guidance · DAERA hazardous waste guidance.
What can happen to old safety boots and wellies?
List the type, pairs, condition and previous use. Uppers, soles and toe protection can contain different materials. We’ll check whether the available route can handle the footwear you have and how you should separate it.
Can old hard hats or bump caps be returned?
Tell us the make, model, age and any known impact history. Keep retired head protection separate for an assessment of the material route. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on when to withdraw a helmet, including after an impact. HSENI PPE guidance.
Can I bring used protective gloves?
Give us the glove type, material and what it was used for. Separate reusable gloves from disposable ones. Tell us before returning gloves that may have come into contact with a hazardous substance. DAERA hazardous waste guidance.
What about safety glasses, goggles and visors?
Tell us the model and whether the lenses, frames or straps are scratched or damaged. These parts can be made from different materials. An item’s condition and the manufacturer’s instructions determine whether reuse is appropriate. HSENI PPE guidance.
Can I return ear defenders or earplugs?
Tell us which are reusable, which are single-use and whether any contain electronics or batteries. Keep disposable plugs and electronic items separate until we confirm the options.
Can respirators, filters or cartridges go in an ordinary return?
Ask before bringing these items and keep them separate from ordinary workwear. Tell us the model, whether it was designed for reuse and what it may have been exposed to. Reusable respiratory protection needs assessment under the manufacturer’s instructions. HSE respiratory protective equipment guidance · DAERA hazardous waste guidance.
Can I return harnesses and fall-arrest equipment?
Discuss these separately. Share the make, model, inspection history and whether the kit arrested a fall. Follow your site’s withdrawal procedures and the manufacturer’s instructions. A competent person should assess any proposed reuse. HSENI guidance on working at height.
Can used single-use PPE be reused through take-back?
Used single-use items stay out of the reuse stream. Tell us the item type and previous use before bringing it to us so we can check what we can do with it. Keep unused surplus in its original packaging where you can.
Arrange a take-back return
Send us a list first and wait for us to confirm what we can take. Then bring the agreed items to us in Belfast.