Recycling & Waste

Recycling & Waste Management How sustainable waste management has supported the NHS during the pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has put a spotlight on healthcare waste management. Throughout a difficult year working alongside the NHS across London, Bywaters continues to offer a dynamic approach centered around sustainability.

Over the past 12 months, the coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives more than anyone thought possible. Whilst city centers remain desolate, hospital wards and GP’s offices have been an everchanging operation. Working alongside the NHS across the capital, Bywaters, a leading waste management company in London, has adapted to the demand’s unpredictable nature. This dynamic approach adopted by their healthcare team helped handle fluctuations, supporting life-saving operations throughout London.

A dynamic approach to national capacity issues

In the past year, the annual clinical waste tonnage produced by the NHS nationwide has doubled. Without the infrastructure in the UK to deal with this level of demand, Bywaters’ teams quickly implemented contingency plans, ensuring the trusts could continue with clinical activities. Working closely with their supply chain Bywaters implemented swift recoveries and temporary safe onsite storage, counteracting the national issue which caused waste build up at many locations across the country.

The upsurge in waste was led by the growth in disposable PPE usage. Since the start of the pandemic, more than 5.6 billion items of PPE have been delivered to England’s health and social care system, up from 2.43 billion in 2019. Through this period, multiple 770l bins of infectious waste were exchanged within COVID wards every hour. Bywaters onsite teams had to remain flexible, working 24/7 to manage the workload required.

“Working at Guy’s and St Thomas’ during the pandemic has been challenging for all involved, but it’s really satisfying to know that we are an integral part of London’s response to Covid-19. We are really proud that we work so closely with the NHS and are able to ‘do our bit’. The team have stepped up to the plate amazingly – clinical waste has increased significantly, but we have managed to deal with this safely. By making sure our service runs smoothly, we have helped keep the hospitals operational.” Dan Goodhind – Bywaters Account Manager at Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Trust

Sustainability remains key

With attention focused on fighting the virus, it would be easy to lose sight of other issues threatening the planet. Around 13 million tonnes of plastic flows into oceans each year, according to a UN Environment estimate in 2018. With the vast majority of PPE single use, there is a fear that before long ‘there could be more masks than jellyfish’ in the ocean, if waste is not managed effectively.

Bywaters and their clients recognise the importance of continuing to implement the most sustainable waste management practices. Working with the NHS, it is fundamental to deliver innovative projects aimed at improving sustainability. This year, correct segregation has been essential, not only to reduce contamination, but to relieve the pressure on the clinical waste sector. Initiatives have been employed to reduce incorrectly labelled infectious waste, whilst introducing a non-hazardous offensive waste stream, where safe to do so.

Looking forward, build back better

The push to reduce single use items remains one of the biggest waste challenges facing the healthcare sector. In 2018, a survey conducted in four Mayo Clinic locations found that singleuse plastics made up at least 20% of medical waste generated in US hospitals. Tackling the issue head on, Bywaters continue to explore reusable options to once single use issues. The roll-out of reusable sharps bins has been given the go ahead at several locations. These bins can be used up to 600 times more than the disposable sharps bin, which gets incinerated along with the contents after use.

Thank you key workers

This year has highlighted key workers across the UK. From supermarket check-out clerks to doctors and nurses, the UK’s response to the pandemic has been all encompassing. Bywaters are proud to work alongside the NHS, ensuring operational efficiency and sustainable improvements, even in the most demanding of circumstances.

If you would like to find out more about our services, please click here. Or contact us at enquiries@bywaters.co.uk.

A contact free waste management service

Whilst social restrictions on our way of working and life are gradually eased, it is important to maintain and even permanently adopt new processes which minimise the risk to our safety in the pandemic and beyond. This can pose a challenge when managing a work force who visit multiple sites or homes, but HIPPO can provide a waste solution which can remove the need for contact as well as improve your business efficiency.

At HIPPO our contact free waste collection service has enabled us to trade in a safe and efficient way throughout this pandemic. Any accessible HIPPOBAG within 4m of the road can be easily picked up by our drivers with no contact at all thanks to the customised craned fleet of vehicles. It also means that there is no requirement for your team to be on site or take the time to transfer the waste to a central location following a job – they can spend more time on the project and rely upon HIPPO to clear the waste.

Using HIPPOBAGs to deal with your irregular waste streams and ad hoc waste events will provide you with a number of benefits in managing waste disposal across your regional or national estate. Whilst regular bins are simply too small, large skips can take up too much space, take too long to fill and can be costly, HIPPOBAGs can provide the balance you need. Our service is not a regular scheduled waste collection covered by a bin contract, you can use us for unexpected waste events whenever you need us. And instead of you needing to have multiple contracts you can benefit from one simple solution with standardised

pricing and a standardised service nationwide.

Our HIPPOBAGs can be filled with heavy and bulky waste and are ideal for applications where a skip or larger container is not appropriate, like awkward locations or areas with access restrictions such as lifting over fences and walls as required. HIPPOBAGs are non-bulky, lightweight and come flat packed, meaning that space can be saved onsite and bags can be carried easily and stored in vehicles or on properties. In addition, HIPPO’s reliable, flexible and convenient service allows the segregation of different types of waste from your facilities. This means that you can meet many of your Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) by easily increasing your recycling rates, minimising your environmental impact, reducing carbon footprint whilst also saving money.

Alternatively where access to waste is restricted, or when you want us to clear the waste for you, our Man and Van service (known as ‘Here to Clear’) is the perfect solution. Our branded Transit Tipper vans are double manned with our professional HIPPO employees and can hold up to 14 yards or 1 tonne of waste.

This solution can often be ideal for reactive waste requirements too, our Here to Clear Reactive provides rapid removal of unplanned waste – such as fly-tipping, emergency repair or site clearance. This form of waste can cause a number of issues, but with one nationwide solution and standardised service you can rest assured knowing that the waste will be swiftly and professionally removed.

We work with organisations of every size so rest assured that whatever your requirement we can offer a fantastic solution to meet your business needs.

Further information can be found on our website www.hippowaste.co.uk/ business. If you have any questions or would like any more information on the services HIPPO can offer then please feel free to contact our sales team at enquiries@hippowaste. co.uk or call 02393 871911.

Recycling & Waste Management The Forshaw Group cleans up on industry waste

As part of its ongoing environmental commitment, the Forshaw Group is helping the construction industry to clean up its act and encourage waste recycling.

The restoration company, which specialises in structural and contents repairs to businesses and premises affected and damaged by fire, flooding and theft, has partnered with the national social enterprise Recycling Lives to assist with site clearance and debris removal.

With an annual spend on skips and waste clearance in the region of £70,000, by collaborating with Recycling Lives, The Forshaw Group will benefit by providing better social value – approximately 10% of the value of the contract and increased sustainability for the environment.

This partnership also coincides with The Forshaw Group’s 2021 vision for embracing environmental measures, positive diversity, and collaboration with social enterprise, as part of the World Economic Forum roadmap for The Great Reset to benefit people, the community and planet.

According to the UK Green Building Council, the construction, demolition and excavation industry accounts for 60 per cent of the UK’s material use and waste creation. This can be up to 100 million tonnes of waste from this one industry each year, 32% of which can end up as landfill.

The managing director of The Forshaw Group, Liam Hanlon, commented: “This new venture will help us to make a big difference in reducing the amount of general waste which some of our services can produce. Being part of a sector which generates a huge amount of waste materials each year, it is our responsibility to reduce and reuse and recycle as much as we can.

“There are multiple benefits of recycling and reusing waste materials, not least for minimising pressure on the environment and avoiding landfill. By integrating the innovative Recycling Lives total waste management system into our infrastructure, this will also allow us to reduce CO2 emissions and bring our company one step closer to reducing our carbon footprint.”

The Forshaw Group is a property restoration specialist, working closely with insurance companies and loss adjusters to renovate commercial and residential property damaged by fire or flood.

For further information on The Forshaw Group, please visit the website: https:// www.theforshawgroup.com/

Join the PSSA today!

The Public Sector Sustainability Association (PSSA) provides a professional association and network for all those working in the Public Sector who have a common interest in sustainability. The aim of the association is to bring together a wide group of people working across all areas of the Public Sector – to help educate, train, support and connect as we work towards a more sustainable future.

Benefits of membership

• Access to up to date info on all issues of sustainability affecting the public sector including the latest news, case studies, legislation, policy and reports • Reminders and invitation to trade events, exhibitions, conferences and seminars involving sustainability • Networking opportunities • Discounted training and education courses • Access to a PSSA Members-Only online forum to discuss issues, problem solve and connect (Launch date TBC)

For more information on becoming a member of the PSSA, please visit www.pssa.info.