HealtH Matters 51
grEEn mattErs
ClEANER GREENER HEAlTHCARE AT
SlIGO GENERAl HOSPITAl
t
wo waste management teams at the targets set by the Green team the installation of a new lighting system to
sligo General Hospital helped the steering Group were communicated replace luminaries throughout the multi-
hospital recycle 152 tonnes of waste last to staff through educational seminars, storey building with movement detectors
year – more than a quarter of all the training sessions, emails and posters. either switching on/off lighting within
hospital’s waste. In 2005 Sligo General Other methods used to communicate with defined intervals.
Hospital formed a multidisciplinary the wider community – patients and the
Green team steering Group to address general public – included the use of ‘Green these efforts have resulted in increased
waste management. Notice Boards’, newsletters, information recycling levels since 2005 with 152 tonnes
two waste teams were set up with messages displayed on plasma screens of waste recycled in 2009; on average 26
very specific roles – the environmental and suggestion boxes. per cent of all waste was recycled each
team which was tasked to deal with month and some months as much as 36
healthcare risk waste, general waste, and exaMPleS oF waSte ManageMent per cent was recycled. Due to the nature
energy conservation; and the Recycling in PraCtiCe: of some waste produced within an acute
team which was recruited from local • The hospital, in conjunction with the hospital there will always be a difficulty
rehabilitation Centres on a voluntary estates Department, negotiated a service in reaching higher levels, however, this
training programme. In addition, a Support level agreement with a Waste Contractor remains the continued focus at sligo
Service Partnership Sub-group was set up for the free collection of cardboard and General Hospital.
to address how any waste management plastic and landfill costs were significantly In 2010, the hospital will be focusing
initiatives could be introduced on a cost reduced. on high energy areas such as catering,
neutral basis. • Waste audits were carried out within the laboratory, radiology, and theatres, as well
the main objective of the Green hospital and the recycling levels within the as office areas.
team steering Group was to promote hospital were increased as a result. Commenting on the achievements
environmental best practice while also • Waste food collection was introduced Domhnall Mcloughlin, Deputy General
ensuring that any set up costs were which diverts approximately six tonnes Manager said, “the benefits of our waste
recouped within an agreed two-year period. from landfill to composting each month. and energy initiatives have been far-
the set up cost of c50,000 was spent on • A system to collect hazardous waste reaching. this has been evident through
the provision of recycling equipment such was introduced for fluorescent tubes, providing for a cleaner, safer hospital
as balers, shredders and compactors. batteries, IT equipment, toner cartridges, together with assisting the environment
The two-year targeted pay-back period cooking oil, aids and appliances and through reducing, reusing and recycling.
was achieved by significantly reducing Weee waste. these actions have also resulted in a
the amount of waste going to landfill and • In 2009, the Energy Officer obtained a much reduced energy bill that has enabled
redirecting it instead to recycling. grant from Sustainable Energy Ireland for the hospital to save money that would
otherwise have had to have been achieved
in perhaps more critical areas, had this
initiative not been undertaken.”
Mr Mc loughlin also explains that “from
our experience it was a relatively easy
programme to initiate and implement.
We found many of our staff, patients and
visitors, were more than willing to cooperate
+ some members
and assist. Indeed we continue to get
of the environmental very positive suggestions on what more
and recycling
can be done to sustain and enhance our
Teams with John
achievements to date. We also feel that
Mcarthur, Catering
Manager at the baler
the system of waste management and
in the existing waste
energy conservation that we introduced
compound at sligo back in 2005 has served us well. It has
General Hospital,
been recognised as being both innovative
(l-R): Joe Casey,
and a model of best practice and we were
Keith Stewart, John
Mcarthur, eithne
very proud to win Regional and National
sheridan, and Matt
achievement awards in 2007 for our Waste
Hogan. Management system”.
HM Iss6.1 p1-70.indd 51 12/03/2010 15:16:23
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