Baling and Recycling of Bottles and Cardboard in Renal Unit

This project was the winner of the 2011 Green Nephrology Award

Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

James Dixon, Trust Waste Officer (and Chair of Sustainability Working Group)

Dr Alison Brown, Consultant Nephrologist

Julia Harding, Matron

Setting/Patient Group: Renal Unit

Issue to be addressed: Large amounts of cardboard and plastic waste are produced by renal units which have the potential to be recycled. Recycling this waste could reduce the environmental impact and cost of waste disposal.

Intervention:

Static Vertical Mill Sized Baler (MX600) on long term rental for cardboard was installed in the Freeman Hospital and a twin chamber compact baler (Compact 75) was hired on two-year rental for dialysis 5L plastic bottles.

Baled cardboard and bottles are collected by SITA UK (the Trust's general waste contractor).

Outcome:

Social: Not documented

Environmental:

• Estimated 3.168 tonnesCO₂e/year from recycling plastic bottles
• Estimated 82 tonnesCO₂e/year to be saved from recycling cardboard.

Economic:

• Net saving £7,384/year

Key learning point:

Installing Balers to recycle carboard and plastic waste offers significant carbon and financial savings