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Talking Rubbish

Talking Rubbish. Steven J Kent BSc. (Hons), Dip HE RN Staff Nurse UHNS NHS Trust. Background. The NHS (England) produces a staggering 18 million tonnes of CO 2 per year [1] This is an increase of 40% since 1990 [2] Waste disposal cost the NHS £71.2 million in 2007/08 [3].

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Talking Rubbish

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  1. Talking Rubbish • Steven J Kent • BSc. (Hons), Dip HE RN • Staff Nurse • UHNS NHS Trust

  2. Background • The NHS (England) produces a staggering 18 million tonnes of CO2 per year [1] • This is an increase of 40% since 1990 [2] • Waste disposal cost the NHS £71.2 million in 2007/08 [3]

  3. Motivation for change • BADS conference 2009 - Dr Maggie Nicol, Consultant Anaesthetist - Southend • “Saving Carbon, Improving Health” • Personal belief • A neat little earner

  4. What were our goals? • To Recycle • To reduce our mis-handled waste • To reduce our energy usage

  5. Recyclingideas for change • Reduce domestic waste, both from ward environment and from staff break room • Reduce paper waste • Correct disposal of used printer toner cartridges • “One in every 100 tonnes of domestic waste generated in the UK comes from the NHS, with the vast majority going to landfill” [5]

  6. Mis-handled wasteideas for change • Approx. 20-30% of clinical waste was non-clinical • Sharps bins used as mobile dustbins • Non-sharp clinical waste disposed of incorrectly • “£800 - £1,000 per tonne for hazardous/pharmaceutical waste disposed of by high temperature incineration” [4]

  7. Energy usageideas for change • Lights left on even when department closed • Non-essential electrical items left on all night • Windows left open when heating is on and heating on throughout the summer • “NHS Energy bill (2007) £400 million” [6]

  8. Recyclingproblems encountered • Problems with infrastructure and cost • Private tendering of waste collection became an unexpected barrier • Staff, quite understandably, unwilling to be enlisted to ‘take it home’

  9. Mis-handled wasteproblems encountered • Removal of clinical bins from bays due to infection control • Wrongly sited clinical bins with no domestic waste provision • Poor apparent understanding of contaminated and non-contaminated waste management by some staff

  10. Energy usageproblems encountered • Education - ‘not at home’ mentality • Laziness - 10pm Friday night max exodus syndrome • Poor maintenance - Unable to ‘turn-off when not in use’

  11. From BADS to good?A neat little earner • Using recycleappeal.com and emptycartridges.co.uk we ensure correct disposal • Each collection of 15 cartridges (min), free with Fed Ex, has potential to net £16.05 (per cartridge price 37p - £1.07) • Cartridges collected from Trust wide and Sodexo, plus our neighbouring Trusts • Monies raised deposited into our Ward Trust Fund, for equipment, training, education etc

  12. From BADS to good? • Cardboard is now 100% captured and recycled at ward level • Correct disposal of batteries for recycling and re-use • Non-essential electrics are turned off • Heating turned off in the summer (at ward level)

  13. From BADS to good? • Domestic and clinical bins re-arranged, without affecting infection control • Staff aware of the importance of discretion when discarding waste • Sharps bins still abused occasionally, predominantly due to their new design • Ensuring radiators are not turned on and windows left open

  14. From BADS to good? • Minimal lighting (where appropriate) Add another pic!

  15. The future.... ?

  16. References • 1. Saving Carbon, Improving Health; NHS Carbon reduction strategy for England. NHS Sustainability Unit. Jan 2009. p1 • 2. Taking the Temperature. NHS Response to Global Warning, 2007. London: NHS Confederation and NEF • 3. NHS Sustainable Development Unit: Waste, Jan 2009 • 4. Source: ERIC data 2007/08, Department of Health • 5. Taking the Temperature-Towards an NHS response to Global Warning, 2007. London: NHS Confederation and NEF • 6. NHS Urged to cut carbon emissions: BBC NEWS http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6226166.stm

  17. Thank youAny questions?

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