In a nice piece posted recently on editNet, the SRCL sales & marketing director says that many NHS Trusts have traditionally separated out their waste streams because they believe it’s the most effective route. But with the sector facing significant public funding cuts, many hospital waste managers are under pressure to find cost savings and consider it too expensive to implement systems that would improve recycling rates, such as an integrated waste management service.
NHS trusts and other healthcare providers need to start source-segregating their waste better if they are maximise recycling outputs. Historically the healthcare sector has been poor at recycling, with some NHS trusts estimated to be only achieving rates of 15-20% across their organisations. Procurement methods are thought to be partly responsible for this, with many hospitals managing their waste streams separately and not securing the best deal as a result.
Waste audits should be a regular part of the producer’s normal management process. To be effective, these should be supplemented with periodic external audit, as best practice, to bring a fresh pair of eyes to a constant problem. Waste managers and waste management companies can work together to improve source segregation and drive up recycling but too often this results in waste management procedures that are cumbersome and inconvenient, in some cases loosing the security and fail-safe process control needed to ensure safe handling of all hazardous fractions. Almost inevitably, a small improvement is magnified to support claims of success though the numbers are invariably false and long-term savings are not seen; indeed, several researchers and independent consultants have egg on their faces for such exaggerated claims.
But audit is an important and valuable process. Auditors must be aware of and sympathetic to hospital life and the necessities of care, avoiding proposals or interventions that are inconvenient or unworkable and which are inevitably counterproductive. Though audit support can be provided by the Trust’s waste management provider, who audits them? And indeed are they able to move beyond the waste container to appreciate and support the work of care providers.
Blenkharn Environmental is able to provide a cradle-to-grave audit, integrating clinical care with internal waste management infrastructure, infection prevention & control (IPC), hygiene and ancillary services and on-site waste management with a comprehensive audit of waste management providers to embrace waste pick-up, transport and final waste processing.
An established researcher with a long history of academic studies of clinical and related wastes, of audit and a background that combines many years in the NHS and university medical schools with specialist expertise in microbiology and infection prevention, Ian also has extensive experience working with and for the clinical waste sector.
Blenkharn Environmental is able to provide a comprehensive audit of site waste management procedures, identifying opportunities and training needs, proposing material changes and identifying successes, while supporting effective waste management and integrating this with site hygiene and ancillary support services, IPC and front-line care activities, and with the services provided by waste management providers.
To discuss your requirements, please contact Blenkharn Environmental.