SRCL has opened its eighth clinical waste Alternative Treatment (AT) site at Knowsley, near Liverpool.

The plant is designed to recover 100% of the treated clinical waste as refuse derived fuel (RDF), which will be used in the cement industry.

Specifically commissioned to service customers locally in the North West of England, and following an investment of £2m by SRCL, the new AT plant has the capacity to process up to 48 tonnes of clinical waste per day and adds to SRCL’s seven other AT sites across the UK and Ireland in Cumbernauld, Newcastle, Four Ashes, Bridgend, Larkfield, Belfast and Dublin.

On the day of the plant’s opening, presentations were given to guests on the changing landscape of healthcare and how this will impact on customers and suppliers alike. As the requirements of healthcare delivery adapts to the need for more community-led care as opposed to primary and secondary care, clinical waste management services will also need to adapt to meet the needs of healthcare organisations while remaining fully compliant at all times.

Stuart Budd, SRCL’s Head of Compliance, commented: “While networking around the room on the day, it was interesting to note that opinions ranged from there being too much legislation or not enough official guidance around a particular area of clinical waste management. These are gaps that industry leaders such as SRCL will have to bridge while working alongside other industry bodies such as the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM). This is especially resonant as the NHS still has to achieve its target of a 34% reduction of CO2 by 2020, and smarter waste management will play a significant role.”

see also http://www.srcl.com/news/event-roundup-liverpool-waste-matters-knowsley-site-opening/