The Importance of Waste Management

[Audio] The Importance of Waste Management. The Importance of Waste Management.

[Audio] The Purpose for the Training To raise awareness of our responsibilities regarding waste To Promote the Healthcare waste types And to Address some of the myths regarding Trust waste.

[Audio] What is Waste? "…any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard…" Every procedure or process everyday will produce waste. Whether it's a paper hand towel or administering a cytotoxic medicine. Therefore, it is important to know where the waste needs to go..

[Audio] Why care about waste? As the Producer of the waste, You and the T-R-U-S-T are Legally Responsible for its safe packaging, storing, transport, recovery, treatment and/or disposal..

[Audio] Waste Producer Legislation There are more than 20 different legislations we must abide by with regards to healthcare waste! For instance: Duty of Care Code of Practise (D-E-F-R-A), Hazardous Waste Regulations, HTM 07-01, Safe and Sustainable management of Healthcare Waste, The Environmental Protection Act and the Terrorism Act 2006 Our legal duties as an organisation are different to those set out at home! Waste is segregated on how Dangerous or Hazardous it is to Humans, Animals and/or the Environment Once thrown in a bin, 10 or more people could be in contact with the waste. For example, Domestic Services, Environmental Team and Contractors 10% of all waste is examined by the waste contractor to ensure we are safely segregating and disposing of healthcare waste compliantly..

[Audio] The Environmental Impact The N-H-S produces 5.4% of the UK's greenhouse gases. Waste types are disposed of in different ways to reduce the impact on the environment in accordance with the waste hierarchy. Some waste is used to produce electricity. Incorrectly segregated waste can pose a serious risk to the environment. For example, soil, water and air contamination..

[Audio] The Waste Hierarchy PREVENTION: Most preferred option: If you don't need it, don't buy it or use it! REUSE: If the item is no longer required, rather than discard it, see if it can be used elsewhere! recycling: Recyclable materials are segregated and extracted and manufactured into new products such as car mats, toilet roll, components for fridges. recovery: anything that can't be recycled is incinerated at an Energy from Waste plant, to generate electricity for homes and businesses. disposal: Least preferred option: waste goes to landfill. Our Trust diverts 100% of waste away from landfill.

[Audio] Why are there so many colours for healthcare waste? So emergency services can safely clear any spillage of healthcare waste on the highways and byways. And It helps identify different final disposal methods, making it more environmentally friendly..

[Audio] Waste Disposal Language There are different disposal methods for clinical waste High Temperature Incineration, also known as H T I, for disposal of Yellow Bags, Yellow Sharps, Purple Bags, Purple Sharps and Anatomical. The waste is incinerated at high temperature to render it safe for the environment, but it is not a sustainable method and there are only 2 H-T-I incinerators for the whole of England's H-T-I waste. Alternative Treatment, also known as A T, for disposal of Orange Bags and Orange Sharps This waste goes through two processes. Firstly, it's autoclaved (sterilisation through steam) to render it safe from infectious substances, then it' sent for low temperature incineration to generate electricity to put back into the National Grid, also known as E f W – Energy from Waste, which is a more sustainable method of disposal. Energy From Waste (E f W), for the disposal of Offensive and Blue Pharmaceutical waste. The waste is sent directly to E f W, the most sustainable method..

[Audio] 'Energy from Waste, also known as E F W' Although focus should still be on waste minimisation, Energy from Waste is a renewable solution that can provide low carbon electricity. E f W plants burn municipal solid waste, often called general or domestic waste, to produce steam in a boiler, and the steam is used to power an electric generator turbine. The electricity produced is then put back into the national grid to compliment other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. All the waste gases emitted from the plant meet very tight limits placed on them through legislation. As a result, energy from waste plants contribute only a small fraction of both local and national particulate and other emissions. About 3.1% of the UK's energy comes from waste incinerators..

[Audio] How much does it cost to dispose of healthcare waste? High Temperature Incineration (H T I) costs between £990 to £1500 per tonne Alternative Treatment (A T) costs between £550 to £1000 per tonne Energy from Waste (E f W) costs between £330 to £600 per tonne.

[Audio] N-H-S-E National Waste Strategy N-H-S England have set targets to all Trusts nationally, to reduce waste volumes and increase segregation as part of 'Delivering a Net Zero N-H-S--' by 2026. The target set out in the National Waste Strategy are as follows: The approximate waste percentages produced by each Trust must be 20% of HTI, 20% AT and 60% Offensive Waste & Blue. Trusts must also reduce their carbon emissions by 50% from waste management..

[Audio] Recycling Waste Every year, the Trust sends approximately 520 tonnes of materials for recycling. That's equivalent to the weight of 149 ambulances. The waste streams we send for recycling are: Domestic Recycling (extracted recycling from the domestic waste stream) Paper Cardboard Glass Plastics Metals (including catering tin cans) Wood Used batteries Garden waste Toner cartridges and Electronic waste, As well as a multitude of other materials.

[Audio] Recycling of Plastic and Carboard For cardboard to be recycled, it must be clean and free from any contamination and should be flat packed before discarding. Plastics must be rinsed from milk or food waste and squashed before disposing into clear bags. These cannot be recycled if there are fluids or food contamination or Medicine/ chemical contamination..

[Audio] Recycling of Glass & Ceramics These orange glass bins must not be used for the disposal of any waste. This does Not get recycled and is ILLEGAL to use as it does not meet with regulations for disposal. Please use the heavy duty brown paper bags (can be sourced from facilities) for unwanted or broken domestic glass and ceramics, for example jars, ceramic mugs and plates et cetera These are then sent for recycling. The blue healthcare waste stream must be used for medicine bottles, vials, blister packs. This should only be used for medicine waste that is not returned to pharmacy for destruction..

[Audio] Recycling of Paper and Magazines It's not just confidential paper that can go into the consoles, All paper can, including, newspapers & magazines. The Paper is recycled into toilet paper and brown paper products, for example envelopes. Please do not discard confidential waste into any Healthcare waste stream as it is not G-D-P-R secure and can be inspected, opened and seen. G-D-P-R applies to 'personal data' meaning any information relating to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified, in particular by reference to an identifier. Wet paper (for example hand towel) or contaminated paper with food or bodily fluids et cetera, must not be placed into the console. Please seek advice from the Waste Manager and data & governance leads..

[Audio] Recycling of Toner Cartridges Discarded cartridges must be placed back into the original packaging and sealed to avoid toner powder spillage, before it can be recycled. The toner is an extremely fine powder, which in itself is not classed as a substance hazardous to health, but any dust in substantial concentration may cause respiratory tract irritation resulting in coughing and sneezing..

[Audio] Domestic Waste Disposal of waste classed as domestic or household waste. These bins are best placed next to hand towel dispensers and sinks to capture the hand towel waste. This waste is disposed of through Energy from Waste, once the recycling material has been extracted. The domestic waste stream is not for the disposal of Liquid Waste, P-P-E from clinical areas (including masks), Medicine or chemical contamination, Sharps or anything that can puncture the bag..

[Audio] Offensive, (also known as Tiger) Soft Waste Only. Waste that is not contaminated with medicines, chemicals or infectious micro-organisms from the treatment of patients. Placed in patient side Rooms (not in isolation), Bed Bay's and Toilets. Can contain Contamination blood or bodily fluids from non-infectious patient. Disposed through Energy from Waste. The offensive waste stream is not for the disposal of Liquid Waste, Medicine or chemical contamination, Sharps or anything that can puncture the bag..

[Audio] Infectious Soft Waste Only (also known as Orange bagged Waste). Waste contaminated with infectious micro-organisms from the treatment of patients but not contaminated with medicines or chemicals Placed in Isolation Rooms. I-P-C door signage dictates if the room is in isolation. sluice or supervised departments. If side rooms are annually 90% or more in isolation, then only orange waste bins are required all year round. Can contain Contamination of blood or bodily fluids from infectious patient. After being rendered safe from the autoclave process, it's disposed of through Energy from Waste. The orange bagged waste stream is not for the disposal of Liquid Waste, Medicine or chemical contamination, Sharps or anything that can puncture the bag..

[Audio] Contaminated Infectious Soft Waste Only (also known as Yellow bagged waste). Waste contaminated with infectious micro-organisms from the treatment of patients and/or contaminated with medicines or chemicals This waste stream is typically found in Laboratories and Theatres. Can contain medicinal/chemical contamination. Used for high-risk infection, also known as high consequence infectious diseases, for example Ebola or Middle East respiratory syndrome also known as mers Disposed of through High temperature incineration. The yellow bagged waste stream is not for the disposal of Liquid Waste, cytotoxic or cytostatic medicines, Sharps or anything that can puncture the bag..

[Audio] Correctly Tying Clinical Waste Bags Clinical waste bags should not be filled anymore than two thirds full. Bags must be swan necked, creating a handle allowing for safely holding the bag. Bags must be tightly tied using a zip tie..

[Audio] Bins at Point of Production Waste bins should be: Clean and Free from damage or rust, Self-closing and pedal operated, no open wastepaper bins in open patient areas for example nurses stations. soft closing for in patient areas, Not overflowing or overfilled, and not contain spare bags. Bins should be placed in the correct location: For example Domestic waste bins should be available in all areas and situated next to sinks. Offensive waste bins must be placed in sluice rooms, bed bays, side rooms not in isolation, showers and toilets as appropriate Orange waste bins to be placed in sluice rooms, infectious side rooms and supervised departments for example I-C-U--, theatres et cetera Infectious orange bagged waste must not be located in public areas!.

[Audio] Orange Sharps Infectious sharps waste, not contaminated with medicines or chemicals To be used for non-medicinally contaminated sharps for example scissors, razors and Needles/Syringes used by Phlebotomists for taking blood samples. The waste is collected by an External Contractor and transported for Alternative Treatment, eventually going for disposal to E f W The orange sharps waste stream is not for the disposal of Liquid Waste, medicine or chemical waste, or soft healthcare waste for example swabs, dressings or plasters..

[Audio] Other Clinical Waste Streams we produce These waste streams are collected by an External Contractor and transported for High Temperature Incineration Yellow Waste Stream Hazardous Infectious waste contaminated with chemicals or medicines Cytotoxic / Cytostatic Hazardous waste contaminated with cytotoxic or cytostatic medicines Cytotoxic substances damage or kill cells. Cytostatic tends to slow or inhibit cellular activity and multiplication. Anatomical Identifiable body tissue and parts. (Doubled up heavy duty yellow bags can be used for larger anatomical items).

[Audio] Blue Medicine, also known as Pharmaceutical Non-Hazardous waste For non-hazardous medicine waste only. To be stored in the clean utility room. What can go in these bins: Any medicine that is non-hazardous Expired medicines A-L-L empty medicine blister packs and bottles Drug destruction kits Liquid controlled Drugs, only with the presence of med gel sachets to ensure that the liquid controlled drugs cannot be drawn back out. What can't go in: Hazardous medicines (cytotoxic/cytostatic) I V and blood giving sets Infectious waste Blood or any bodily fluids Outer packaging for medicines Confidential data Sharps.

[Audio] For sharps to be disposed of compliantly, here is 9 point check to follow Lid must be fitted securely Temporary closure must be in place Lid colour must match the label Duty of Care Information must be completed (without the label being fully completed, it cannot legally be transported on the road for disposal) Free from external contamination No paper or packaging must be present within the sharps tub Correctly segregated waste stream Sealed and permanently closed when ¾ full Must be closed after 6 months from opening date ready for disposal Department to place into a secure area ready for collection.

[Audio] Disposal of used Vacsax To ensure the safety and wellbeing of those handling this type of waste, used VacSax must be placed into an approved UN3 2 9 1 leak proof container. The yellow cardboard VacSax boxes do not meet with UN approved packaging standards required to transport this waste for final disposal. They must not be discarded into any bagged waste (double bagged or not)..

[Audio] Waste Produced from Community Healthcare All healthcare organisations have a legal duty to ensure that waste produced by the actions of healthcare staff in the community (for example in a patient's home, and classified as hazardous due to an inherent risk of infection, or cytostatic/cytotoxic medicines, sharps or other hazards), are not disposed of in the domestic waste stream. Healthcare staff working in the community are responsible for the waste produced as a result of their activities and should otherwise comply with the duty of care requirements..

[Audio] Interesting Facts On average the whole of York & Scarborough Teaching Hospitals produces the following: Approximately 1000 tonnes of Clinical Waste. This is equivalent weight to: 2000 Polar Bears Approximately 1690 tonnes of Non-Clinical Waste. This is equivalent weight to: 300 African Bull Elephants Combined weight This is weight equivalent to: 30 Blue Whales That's equivalent to 2667 humans each weighing approximately 70 kilograms.

[Audio] Next Steps Continue to improve waste segregation at source Be aware of the dangers when handling the different waste streams Start thinking about your areas – what waste do you produce and what do you need. Spread the word and don't be afraid to ask of how to compliantly and safely dispose of an item Speak with the Trusts Waste Manager for any queries.

[Audio] Thank you for taking the time to complete this session..