BMEC theatres go green

Surgical Services

As part of the NHS clinical waste strategy, NHS England have set targets so that all waste is segregated correctly. Unfortunately, at SWB we often find domestic waste such as packaging, plastic pop bottles, coffee cups and food in offensive and orange bags which costs the Trust an excessive amount of money.

Dawn Hall, Waste and Decommissioning Manager believes colleagues in BMEC theatres are playing their part in making the area they work in more sustainable.

She said: “The staff within BMEC are engaged and have been a joy to work with. They’re keen to make a difference. Training around waste management has been delivered and will be cascaded across the department.”

As part of mission to make ourselves more sustainable, we are currently rolling out similar initiatives around waste management across the Trust including a number of wards at Sandwell and all theatres.

Dawn added: “The majority of waste generated across wards and departments is not infectious and as such can be disposed of as tiger bag offensive. This subsequently reduces costs and is more sustainable. The changeover won’t cause any additional work for staff, however, there are significant cost benefits.”

It is crucial colleagues start to become mindful of waste management as everyone generates waste. By 2026, NHS England are expecting a 50 per cent reduction in carbon emissions produced from waste management in NHS organisations which will then rise to 80 per cent by 2028.

Fran Silcocks, Head of Sustainability, echoes Dawn’s thoughts and said: “The NHS as a whole produces approximately 156,000 tonnes of clinical waste which is the equivalent to over 400 loaded jumbo jets. This has a significant environmental impact and is associated with high running costs and carbon emissions.”

As part of our continued efforts in going green and becoming a more sustainable organisation, we recently introduced an efficient waste stream in BMEC theatres.

The waste stream was introduced as part of the ongoing project to move the Trust over to using the offensive waste stream, known to many as tiger bags.

“BMEC theatres have been proactive is trying to be more sustainable and are keen to work with the Trust in trying to reduce the negative impact we have on environment as well as our carbon footprint,“said James Morrissey, BMEC Theatre Manager.

“Prior to the change, all of the waste we generated in theatres was going into orange or black bags despite it not being infectious.”

“This is why implementing a good waste strategy over the next 10 years is key as it’s estimated that the NHS can save approximately £11 million every year in recurrent revenue costs, and we can reduce our carbon emissions from waste by around 30 per cent which is equivalent to removing two million road miles a year.”