Jason Mitchell presented on waste management initiatives at Newcastle Hospitals. In 2016-17, the hospitals produced 5,035 tons of waste, with 39% going to energy recovery and 23% recycled. Successful programs included clear bin signage and competitions to engage staff. The hospitals aim to increase recycling and reuse while reducing hazardous waste. By 2020, they target 45% reuse and recycling compared to 23% currently, saving costs by moving up the waste hierarchy.

1. Applying the Waste Hierarchy
at Newcastle Hospitals
Jason Mitchell ~ Waste Manager
Sustainability Day 2019 Newcastle Roadshow ~ 27.09.18

2. Waste Produced 2016-17
& Types of Waste
• Incineration = 272t (6%)
(Inc. Sharps = 73t)
• Heat Treatment = 1,689t (32%)
• Landfill = 0t – ZERO!
• Energy Recovery = 1,891t (39%)
• Recycling = 1,183t (23%)
• (or 41% of Non-Clinical waste)
• Total waste produced = 5,035t

3. Successful Initiatives Over The Years

4. Reducing Waste Using Alternative
Containment Solutions

5. Engaging Staff & Visitors
• Easy to read posters/bin magnets
• Website (internal & external)
• Green News
• Green Champions
• Green events / competitions
• Rolling audit programme

6. Waste Awareness Week 2017

7. Reducing Waste in a
Patient Environment
Using the Correct Waste Receptacle:
• Sharps ONLY inside SharpSmart units – no swabs, lines, packaging!
• ONLY soft healthcare waste in or ORANGE bags
• Pharmaceutical waste in BLUE BioBins (Cyto inside PURPLE)
• Paper towel / blue roll in BLACK bags
• Packaging in clear RECYCLING bags
• Consider the nature of infection on the ward. Is classifying the waste
as infectious appropriate?
Providing Sufficient Waste Receptacles In Location:
• Black bag bins ALWAYS at sinks
• Recycling in patient areas – bed bays, communal areas, corridors.
• Recycling in all staff areas and treatment/drug/utility rooms.

8. The Cost of Waste
Waste Type Disposal
£ per
bag / box
Recycling Recycling Facility (North east) 14p
Domestic
Sorted then Energy from Waste
(North east) (No Landfill!)
35p*
Confidential Onsite Shredding £0.90*
Non-Infectious Waste
(Tiger)
Energy from Waste (North east) £0.55*
Infectious Waste
(Orange)
Heat Treatment (Benton) £0.80*
BioBin Incineration (UK-Wide) £3.26
Clinical Sharps Incineration (Leeds) £6.00 – £15.00*
We spent £1.06m on waste disposal last year: £800k on clinical and £260k on non-clinical waste
* Average weights estimated at 3kg for black, orange or tiger bag, 8kg for BioBin and 10kg for confidential sack.
** Estimated; we pay for the SharpSmart boxes per unit (all inclusive of treatment, hire and transport) not only by weight

9. The Waste Hierarchy

10. Moving Up The Waste Hierarchy –
Our 2020 Vision
38% 39% 39% 40% 40% 39%
20%
39% 38% 38% 39% 36%
40%
45%
24% 24% 22% 24% 21%
25%
35%
1,180,000.0
1,200,000.0
1,220,000.0
1,240,000.0
1,260,000.0
1,280,000.0
1,300,000.0
1,320,000.0
1,340,000.0
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2020 Target
Re-use & Recycling
Energy Recovery
Hazardous Clinical
Waste Tonnage

11. Moving up the Waste Hierarchy –
Our 2020 Vision
• Expand Non-Infectious Waste Segregation
– Reduce the amount of non-hazardous waste being over
treated in current infectious waste stream.
– Save costs and environmental impact.

12. 18 01 04 – Non-Infectious Waste

13. 18 01 04 – Non-Infectious Waste
Waste arising from patients is PRESUMED to be
non-infectious unless…
• …Infection in a patient is KNOWN or…
• …Infection in a patient is SUSPECTED
• Isolation/Barrier nursing procedure in effect
Successfully in 50+ Wards. Circa 20% weight
Ambition to achieve 50% Tiger by March 2019

14. Moving up the Waste Hierarchy –
Our 2020 Vision
• Expand Non-Infectious Waste Segregation
– Reduce the amount of non-hazardous waste being over
treated in current infectious waste stream.
– Save costs and environmental impact.
• RVI Food Waste for Anaerobic Digestion
– Heaviest part of our general waste.
– Huge environmental savings if segregated and consigned.
– Start in Catering Dep’t, then expand to Food Court.

15. Opportunities With Food

16. Moving up the Waste Hierarchy –
Our 2020 Vision
• Expand Non-Infectious Waste Segregation
– Reduce the amount of non-hazardous waste being over
treated in current infectious waste stream.
– Save costs and environmental impact.
• RVI Food Waste for Anaerobic Digestion
– Heaviest part of our general waste.
– Huge environmental savings if segregated and consigned.
– Start in Catering Dept, then expand to Food Court.
• Increase Reuse of Discarded Items
– Ensure Equipment Team assess all surplus equipment for
reuse and implement WARPIT software (eBay for waste!).
– Expand reuse of unused medicines and surplus medical
equipment.

17. Waste Hierarchy Example
Reuse and Recycling
Staff = 800
Rooms = 200+
Waste = 350+ Tonnes
In 7 weeks!

18. Three Step Approach
1st Approach – Furniture Reuse (Warp-It)

19. Three Step Approach
2nd Approach – Recycling Old Furniture

20. Three Step Approach
3rd Approach – Segregation In New Offices
X 383!

21. Furniture and Equipment Reuse:
Warp-It

22. Move Up The Waste Hierarchy, Saving Money:
Furniture Reuse (CAV)

23. Moving up the Waste Hierarchy –
2020 Vision
• Increase recycling
– Expand into other waste streams (food, vinyl flooring,
carpets, timber, polystyrene, low-grade paper, plastic
media etc.)
• Reduce the amount of waste produced
– Reduce packaging from NHS Supply Chain
– Challenge prevalence of “disposable” materials
• Increase purchase of recycled content materials
– Work with colleagues in Supplies & Procurement
– Help increase demand for recyclables. Close the loop

24. PVC Masks and Tubes Recycling…
Divert 50% - save £9,300
Divert 75% - save £14,000
…developed into this…

25. Moving Up The Waste Hierarchy –
Our 2020 Vision
39% 40% 40% 39% 36% 36%
20%
38% 38% 39%
36%
40% 35%
45%
22% 24%
21% 24%
29% 30%
35%
1,180,000.0
1,200,000.0
1,220,000.0
1,240,000.0
1,260,000.0
1,280,000.0
1,300,000.0
1,320,000.0
1,340,000.0
1,360,000.0
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Q2 2016/17Q3 2016/17 (BAU)Q4 2016/17 Q1 2017/18 Q2 2017/18 Q3 2017/18 2020 Target
Reuse & Recycling
Energy from Waste
Hazardous Waste
Tonnage

26. Jason Mitchell (MCIWM CEnv)
Waste Manager
Newcastle Hospitals
0191 282 1543
jason.mitchell@nuth.nhs.uk