Recycling

Recycling and waste separation plays an integral role in our commitment to being a more environmentally friendly, sustainable and ‘greener’ organisation.

Our commitment to decarbonisation and green healthcare recognises the relationship between the health of our planet and the health of our people across CTM.

Recycling and proper waste separation offers tremendous savings both in terms of our cost to the environment and the financial savings we make through better waste management.

Across the health board we have already seen the benefits recycling can have for the planet and for our services.

• We currently recycle approximately 40% of our waste each year.
• That’s the approximate equivalent of 57,000 tonnes of carbon. And saves us around £14million a year.
• Project work with theatres and anaesthetics has improved waste separation and recycling rates, providing £4,000 - £8,000 per annum savings per theatre site involved.
• 100% of food waste from our sites goes to anaerobic digestion rather than landfill.
• From 2020-21 we diverted an estimated 230 tonnes of food waste from landfill- that’s the same weight as almost 12 coaches full of people or 35 African elephants.

This page sets out just some of the great work taking place across our Health Board and out in our communities; all of which is helping us reduce the harm we do to our planet and building healthier a healthier future for current and future generations.

Our strategy for Building Healthier Communities Together ensures that we work with communities across CTM to achieve this and we want to hear your thoughts and ideas on how we reach our next environmental milestones, especially when it comes to helping people reduce, re-use and recycle more.  Together we can all make a difference.

‘DON’T WASTE IT’ Campaign

On Global Recycling Day 2022 we launched the ‘Don’t Waste It!’ campaign to highlight how we can all be everyday #RecyclingHeroes.

Every year Global Recycling Day recognises, and celebrates, the importance recycling plays in preserving our precious primary resources and securing the future of our planet.

For 2022, we wanted to send out a simple message to all of our staff and service users across CTM- Don’t waste it.

Don’t waste your opportunity to make a difference; every piece of waste that we recycle properly helps us reduce our carbon footprint and prevents recyclable materials from ending up in landfill.

One small act each day, though it may seem insignificant, can make a collective difference which is why we don’t want you to miss your opportunity to play your part.

From March 18 2022 you will find posters across all of our sites to support you with your recycling efforts. These guides are there to help you place your recycling in the correct bins- and importantly remind people to wash any food containers before putting them in the recycling.

Clinical Projects

Medicine

• • • Homemade scrubs and masks
    • e: Pola.Grzybowska@wales.nhs.uk

Paediatrics

• • • Modelling of energy and waste processes in the Princess of Wales Hospital paediatric department (Masters project with Cardiff University)
    • Reducing inhaler prescribing
    • e: Emily.Payne@wales.nhs.uk

Anaesthesia

• • • Recycling in the operating theatre
    • e: Huw.Davis@wales.nhs.uk

Innovation with iCTM                                                                                                                                   

In early 2021 the Health Board implemented a new Directorate called iCTM to ensure a robust Improvement, Innovation, Value Based Healthcare and Change function existed to support and facilitate service and quality enhancement throughout CTM. iCTM are working with partners in Local Authorities, Third Sector, Industry and Academia to build and enable a culture of innovation via engaged and motivated people across the CTM region. iCTM are enabling rapid digital innovation prototyping and application of new technology to old problems, levering in regional and national funding opportunities to creatively problem solve. 

The iCTM team are constantly looking at ways to improve our sustainability and more specifically tackle the amount of waste we produce. An example of this is an ongoing project to tackle Mediboots, which create 3,500 tonnes of clinical waste a year destined for incineration. iCTM are applying to the Cardiff Capital Region Challenge Fund to find sustainable solutions that create value from this plastic waste. The Challenge Fund proposal will focus on 3 key waste contributors including the Mediboot in order to reduce non-recyclable plastic, develop new products with create a multi-stakeholder network, driving green growth and change.

How is our waste managed?

NHS All Wales Clinical Waste and Municipal Waste Contracts are awarded through an NHS All Wales Tender Process managed by NWSSP Procurement services on behalf of NHS Wales. Our waste and recycling is processed in the following ways:

• Stericycle are contracted to manage Clinical waste which is incinerated or taken down the alternative treatment process, depending on the waste type:
• Incinerated waste generates lime ash residue which is recycled by 3^rd parties. The steam/ heat from the incineration process is used to generate electricity
• Alternative treatment heats waste to disinfect it, shredding the waste into flock which can be used as a fuel source
• Veolia are contracted to manage municipal waste and recycling. ‘Dry Mixed Recycling’ (DMR) is collected and separated for recycling by Veolia.
  • 60-70 tonnes goes to landfill, costing ~£15-20,000 PA
  • 800 tonnes mixed recycled waste, costing £200,000 PA (includes plastic)

Elite Paper Solutions are a Social Enterprise based in Merthyr Tydfil who collect, destroy and recycle all our disadvantage in South Wales.

Elite also produce fully biodegradable - ECO Animal Bedding is made from re-used cardboard which contains natural materials, meaning it can breakdown in natural elements in as little as 8 weeks.

Collecteco are a national company that support the Health Board with donations of unwanted furniture and also collect furniture from us that can be reused.

Further Resources

Visit the Global Recycling Day website

Find out more about recycling at Wales Recycles

Discover how we and other Health Boards and partners across Wales are working as part of a Green Heath Network to drive innovation and improvement.