RECYCLING
Cups need to be collected as a separate waste stream, with liquids removed.
research showed that more than 53% of respondents regularly use a reusable cup. However, during times of stress, such as hospital visits, this figure may be lower. Clear information and easy access to bins go a long way to ensuring effective recycling. Education is indeed key. For Valpak’s
own cup box take-back scheme, we advise on the best places to position bins, and
Case study
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves Ealing, Harrow, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire, with its out-clinic, A&E, Maternity, and Minor Injuries units treating over 400,000 patients each year. In 2022, the National Cup Recycling Scheme began its support to the Trust in setting up a cup recycling trial around the Hillingdon Hospital site, which provides refreshments from a variety of sites – both cafeterias and in foyers. It has many high footfall areas, which call for a variety of bin types. As with all sites, promotion and behaviour change marketing were key. The National Cup Recycling Scheme designed new posters for the new campaign at Hillingdon Hospital to help inform and direct visitors and staff to the cup recycling bins throughout the hospital. Hyder Mohammed, the Trust’s head
of Sustainability, said: “The Hillingdon Hospital Foundation Trust is committed to ensuring that cups are fully recycled throughout the site. The team at the National Cup Recycling Scheme liaised with our waste collector, Grundon, and came on a site tour to advise on the best type of bins to use and where to place them. They were also able to give us guidance on how to handle the cups ready for collection by Grundon.” Paper cups have to be kept separate
from other waste streams in order for them to be accepted by the waste collector and fully recycled. Although it is early days, and there have been some issues with contamination of other types of waste material in the bins, the team at the National Cup Recycling Scheme has continued to offer support. A follow-up site visit is being arranged to understand how to tackle the contamination issue.
Despite a perception that single-use cups are not recyclable, Valpak says we already have the capacity to recycle all of the single-use cups generated in the UK.
provide clear signage to make things easier. Although contamination typically reduces as people become familiar with the system, we are always aware that recycling may not be at the top of patients’ minds. The clearer we can make things, the more chance we have of waste being placed in the right bin. The style of boxes and bins chosen can also have a major impact. In an office
environment, for example, organisations might use a collection box, whereas in a busy public area, a tube stack is often more suitable. The system also needs to incorporate a way to remove liquids – either via a sluice box or down a nearby sink.
Arranging collection Recycling infrastructure in the UK can sometimes resemble a postcode lottery. While selected areas are well-catered for, others struggle to find a collector willing to accept separated waste streams. Valpak’s dedicated collection box for cups was designed to full this gap. It holds up to 700 cups, and is replaced when full. However, larger NHS Trusts in more outlying areas may generate too many cups for a box system. The advice for more remote Trusts looking to set up a cup recycling scheme is to begin the search for a collector as soon as possible. When the new legislation comes into
force, organisations will need to report twice a year, to demonstrate both the volume of cups being placed onto the market, and of those sent for recycling. This is an entirely new data requirement. Current information is likely to record the number of cups, rather than weights, so producers will need to calculate new volumes. In our work around packaging compliance, sourcing the correct weights is often one of the greatest challenges. Valpak regularly weighs products to provide producers with reliable data, and we advise obligated businesses to plan ahead so they can confidently convert
March 2024 Health Estate Journal 77
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