Trust induction booklet - University Hospital Southampton NHS ...

Waste Disposal InformationTotal cost is £100,000 on Domestic disposal & £600,000 on Clinical = £700,000This Trust produces approximately 1200 tonnes of clinical waste and 1400 tonnes of domesticwaste each year.Disposal costsClinical waste is separated into:clinical sharps/ medicinal glass bottle waste @ £612/tonne andclinical waste as in yellow clinical waste bags @ £419/tonneDomestic waste £98 tonneUHS spends £700k on waste (clinical and domestic combined). If we could reduce the amount ofclinical waste by segregating properly and not contaminating this waste stream with inappropriatewaste such as cardboard, paper, plastic or recyclables or domestic waste, it would be a huge savingto the Trust and more environmentally friendly.Currently we are negotiating with our local Council to have our recyclable glass taken away for FREEand recycled and used under road surfaces. If this were not sent for recycling it would go into thecostly clinical waste stream at £612/tonne, so your glass bottles would be gratefully received!Currently the Trust has two waste streams for cardboard recycling; larger cardboard items arecollected and flattened by the ward areas, placed in a green cage and sent to the waste managementarea. Here is it bailed and sent to a company for recycling. We currently receive a rebate of£30/tonne via this recycling avenue.Waste SegregationSegregation of waste is essential to ensure that all waste is disposed of correctly and safely and inthe most cost effective way. For example a clinical waste bag filled with domestic waste will becharged as clinical waste. Research shows that 40-50% of waste found in clinical bags is domesticwaste. Please think of the cost difference.Clinical WasteEnsure everything clinical goes into a yellow bag. This includes any items that have been in contactwith body fluids such as dressings, gloves, aprons and sanitary towels.SharpsSharps must be placed in the yellow sharps bin with a secure lid - Never put needles/sharps in ayellow bag. This is important to reduce injury and cross infection to staff.Domestic WasteAll other non-clinical waste that cannot be recycled including packaging, food waste, paper towels etcmust be placed into the black domestic waste bags.From 3 rd September 12 Page 25 of 31