The scissors, tweezers and
forceps are put through an autoclave machine which uses high
temperatures and pressures to kill microorganisms and
sterilise them, making it safe and hygienic for handling by
the metal recyclers.
Battery recycling is another
initiative popular with staff, which Jules says is
encouraging as anything to prevent batteries ending up in
the landfill is a good thing, not only for the fire risk
they pose.
“Batteries have a variety of recyclable
materials such as steel, nickel, manganese dioxide, zinc,
mercury, lithium, silver oxide and cadmium. However, they
can also contain flammable or toxic substances. So,
recycling batteries is not only an environmental safeguard,
but also a health and safety precaution.”
Old towels
no longer suitable for patient use are used as rags by the
engineers at Te Whatu Ora’s hospitals in Whāngarei,
Dargaville, Kawakawa and Kaitaia.
Jules says
Whāngarei Hospital’s laundry has very little waste which
is unusual. “Normally all linens sent to landfill, but
here they are recycled. For example, worn or torn bed sheets
are either sold to a rag manufacturer or, if suitable, cut
and resewn into bassinet sheets.”
Medical equipment
& clinical consumables that are no longer needed are
given to social enterprise Take My Hands to rehome to
hospitals in the Pacific Islands.
Other items recycled
include e-waste, plastic shrink wrap, fluorescent lighting
tubes, printer toner cartridges and shredded confidential
papers.
Cool tubs and ice bricks are returned to the
supplier to reuse, while biodegradable drug trays are given
to the SPCA for use with animals in isolation to reduce
cross contamination.
In addition, all food waste
generated while preparing patient meals is collected by an
MPI-approved pig farmer.
Jules says that while
recycling helps reduce waste to landfill, minimising waste
is even better than recycling it – “so we should strive
for no waste in the first place”.
“We’re always
looking at what other product stewardship programmes,
recycling and waste minimisation opportunities are around,
or where we can expand what we’re already doing. So, if
anyone has any suggestions, please let us
know.”
© Scoop Media
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