University of Leeds (The) and MYGroup Hull Limited (AKT3) 2024

Every year, thousands of tonnes of high-visibility safety clothing end up in landfill or incinerators, because no efficient system exists to recycle the mixed fabrics, reflective strips, and fasteners that make up a single garment. This project, a collaboration between the University of Leeds and recycling firm MYGroup, aims to build that missing system. Currently, hi-vis waste—from construction sites, railways, and emergency services—is difficult to sort and process. The reflective and fluorescent materials that keep workers safe also make the clothing nearly impossible to recycle through standard methods. The researchers will develop a process to convert end-of-life hi-vis clothing into a clean, sorted feedstock that can be fed directly into both mechanical and chemical recycling lines. If successful, the project would close a loop that currently does not exist. Instead of sending worn-out safety vests and jackets to waste, recyclers could turn them into raw materials for new products. This would reduce demand for virgin plastics and textiles, cut landfill volumes, and lower the carbon footprint of the PPE supply chain. For industries that generate large volumes of hi-vis waste, it could also reduce disposal costs. The system is designed to be scalable and commercially viable, meaning it could be adopted by waste processors and clothing manufacturers across the UK.