Westlake Unveils New Pilot Initiative for PVC Medical Waste Recycling

Westlake Global Compounds and Westlake Dimex, divisions of Westlake Corporation, have unveiled the "Choose Pink" pilot program, a pioneering initiative focused on recycling polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in partnership with Houston Methodist. This groundbreaking program, the first of its kind within Houston's healthcare system, will be implemented at the Outpatient Center (OPC) of Houston Methodist Hospital, a leading facility in the Texas Medical Center.

The "Choose Pink" program aims to develop a systematic approach for collecting used PVC items from outpatient procedures, including nasal cannulas, masks, oxygen tubing, and saline bags—materials typically discarded in hospital settings. The program will use specially designated hampers and bags to collect these items, simplifying the recycling process by minimizing the need for further sorting. Collected bags will be transferred to a Houston Methodist warehouse, where they will be loaded onto semi-trailers and transported to Westlake Dimex’s facility in Marietta, Ohio, for processing.

Jason Fischer, director of sustainability at Houston Methodist, highlighted the environmental benefits of the program, noting that it provides an opportunity to divert a significant amount of PVC waste from landfills. "Our mission at Houston Methodist is to enhance lives through health and innovation. This initiative reflects our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability," Fischer said.

PVC is a durable and versatile material widely used in medical devices for over 70 years, providing essential healthcare applications for screening, diagnosis, and treatment. By recycling single-use PVC items, the program aims to reduce the hospital’s carbon footprint and prevent waste from ending up in landfills. Andy Antil, general manager of Westlake Dimex, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating that the recycled PVC will be processed into new products such as commercial and retail matting, exercise equipment mats, dock edging, and cord protectors.

Houston Methodist will be the first healthcare facility in Houston to implement a PVC recycling program, joining similar initiatives that have been established in other countries including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Belgium, Guatemala, and the United Kingdom. Programs are also underway in Toronto, Canada, as well as recently launched projects in Atlanta, Chicago, and Rochester, New York. The Vinyl Institute reports that 1.1 billion pounds of vinyl are recycled annually in North America, significantly contributing to reduced carbon emissions and landfill diversion.

Westlake Dimex, based in Marietta, Ohio, is one of the largest processors of post-industrial resins in the U.S., with a capacity to handle over 100 million pounds of plastic materials annually. The recycled PVC from Houston Methodist will be converted into a variety of consumer and industrial products, including office chair mats, garden edging, marine dock edging, control joints for masonry construction, cord protectors, and household mats.

The "Choose Pink" pilot program represents a significant step forward in recycling innovation within the healthcare sector, combining sustainability efforts with practical solutions to manage PVC waste.