Waste

Recycling

One in every 100 tonnes of domestic waste generated in the UK comes from the NHS, with the vast majority going to landfill. NHS organisations should aspire to at least match the targets set for the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) targets in managing the different waste streams – this includes all departments increasing their recycling figures to 40% of their waste arisings by 2010 and to 75% of their waste arisings by 2020.

The NHS Confederation and the New Economics Foundation calculates that recycling all the paper, cardboard, magazines and newspapers produced by the NHS in England and Wales could save up to 42,000 tonnes of CO2. This is equivalent to the savings made by replacing over half a million 100W incandescent light bulbs with 20W energy-saving bulbs, or taking around 17,000 cars off the road.

Case Studies

Royal Cornwall Hospital Renal Unit

In 2008 the Renal unit at Royal Cornwall Hospital Truro took part in a climate change and carbon reduction initiative.  From it flowed a short list of immediate actions, and some longer term actions both to improve the service and cut carbon.  Some of the easiest actions such as a 70% reduction in linen use, and reducing food waste from 35% to near zero, also resulted in immediate savings of carbon, and c£8k cash, more than paying for the programme.

Devon Partnership Trust Sustainable Development Action Plan

A copy of Devon Partnership NHS Trust's Sustainable Development Action Plan, as reported to Board in September 2009.

Free Battery Recycling at Torbay Care Trust

Torbay Care Trust have set up domestic battery recycling with Battery Back, a free service set up in conjunction through NHS Supply Chain under The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009. Battery Back offer three size containers, 5 litres, 60 litres and 120 litres. Torbay Care Trust have implemented the scheme at all Trust sites and GP practices creating 54 drop off points. 

News

  1. BMJ Spotlight on Climate Change
    Mon, 19/03/2012

    The BMJ has just published a spotlight on climate change on ...

  2. Sustainability in the NHS: Healthcheck 2012 (from SDU bulletin)
    Wed, 01/02/2012

    Today the NHS SDU launches its new publication '...

  3. Asthma Inhaler Recycling Extended
    Wed, 09/11/2011

    GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has rolled out its respiratory inhaler recycling scheme to community pharmacies across the country following successful trials. The scheme, Complete the Cycle, is run in partnership with TerraCycle UK and was piloted earlier this year...

  4. Global Green and Healthy Hospitals
    Thu, 13/10/2011

    The NHS SDU has become one of the founding members of a new global initiative: Global Green and Healthy Hospitals - which supports existing efforts around the world to promote greater sustainability and environmental health in the health sector and thereby to strengthen health systems...

  5. Public Health Residential School 2011 - info and presentations
    Wed, 12/10/2011

    Information is now available from the South West Public Health Residential School, held at Dartington in September 2011.

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