PVC | INNOVATION
towards a successful transition to life after their release from prison. We are proud to be working with the New Futures Network and helping to provide a route into employment and more positive outcomes for prisoners.” Barts Health NHS Trust in London joined
RecoMed in May 2018. In its first year of participat- ing in the scheme, the Trust diverted 450 kg of PVC from costly clinical waste streams. This was the equivalent of 15,000 oxygen masks being sent for recycling rather than incineration or landfill. As a result, substantial savings on waste disposal costs were achieved. The Trust decided to take part in the RecoMed scheme because anaesthetists and nurses were concerned at the large amounts of single use plastic items going into the clinical waste bin. They recognised this was both expensive for the hospital and damaging for the environment. The first step was for RecoMed to liaise with both clinical and waste management teams at the Trust to confirm which items were recyclable through the scheme and to decide where to trial the scheme. The decision was made to start with three different theatre recovery areas split between Newham University Hospital and Whipps Cross Hospital. The waste management team recommended a design for the pedal bins to best suit the trial area. RecoMed provided bins to meet the team’s specification, and the trial began. Clinical staff were enthusiastic about the project, and quickly incorpo- rated RecoMed into their routine. With the trial up and running, the waste management team added the RecoMed bins to their waste audit programme. By reporting on usage, they helped to keep the bins free from non-PVC items – a critical factor in making the scheme’s implementation a success. In the first six months, the Trust saw 250 kg (or the equivalent of 8,300 oxygen masks) of used PVC saved from the clinical waste stream. As a result, Barts Health NHS Trust rolled the programme out to theatres across all five of its hospital sites. “We’re proud to have three of our five hospital sites recycling used PVC masks and tubing that were previously disposed of as offensive waste,” says Neil Allen – Barts Health NHS Trust Waste and Environment Manager. “The scheme has also generated amazing support from our anaesthetic teams, helping the Trust become greener as part of our war on waste.” Grundon Waste Management has been working with RecoMed since February 2017 and has switched 3.75 tonnes of PVC masks and tubing from clinical waste incineration or alternative treatment to reprocessing for new products. The company has achieved this without the need for
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any additional collection journeys. At the same time, it has reduced the internal resources needed for waste disposal, and helped its customers to boost recycling. Grundon adds that it was looking for ways to move waste up the hierarchy. Recognis- ing that it was disposing of large quantities of recyclable PVC resources, the Grundon team approached RecoMed to explore the idea of reprocessing as an alternative. RecoMed and Grundon agreed streamlined
processes for collecting and managing the masks and tubing as a separate waste stream category. Working in partnership, the teams also advised Grundon’s hospital customers on how to segregate, collect and store the devices safely. RecoMed provided ward level bins and waste bay containers to meet each hospital’s requirements. The only change to the collection routine was for operators to start collecting and replacing the designated RecoMed waste container at each visit. At the waste transfer station, space was allocated for a few pallets, so that the material could be consolidated ready for collection by RecoMed’s logistics partners. By partnering with RecoMed, Grundon im-
proved its ‘green’ credentials, achieved positive brand exposure and took another step towards its corporate social responsibility goals. Grundon’s hospital customers welcomed its input in helping them to increase recycling, cut waste disposal bills, and improve their own environmental credentials. RecoMed adds that it continues to look for new
partners in the PVC recycling scheme. “We are open to partnerships with stakeholders who wish to contribute towards sustainability in healthcare,” says Claes. “This could include medical device manufacturers, waste management companies and facilities management companies, for example.” RecoMed is based on a successful PVC medical
November/December 2020 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 29
Above: Granulated PVC masks and tubing
IMAGE: RECOMED
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