The achievement
Since starting to work with RecoMed in February 2017, Grundon Waste Management have switched 3.75 tonnes of PVC masks and tubing from clinical waste incineration or alternative treatment to reprocessing for new products. They have achieved this without any additional collection journeys. At the same time, they have reduced the internal resources needed for disposal, and helped customers boost recycling.
Why Grundon got involved
Grundon are always looking for ways to move waste up the hierarchy. Recognising that they were disposing of large quantities of resource-rich PVC, the Grundon team approached RecoMed to explore the idea of reprocessing as an alternative.
What happened next
Together, RecoMed and Grundon agreed streamlined processes for collecting and managing the masks and tubing as a separate waste stream category. Working in partnership, the teams also advised Grundon’s hospital customers on how to segregate, collect and store the devices safely. Recomed provided ward level bins and waste bay containers to meet each hospital’s requirements.
Customers embraced the idea, and the scheme was soon up and running. The only change to collection routine was for operators to start collecting and replacing the designated RecoMed waste container at each visit. At the waste transfer station, it was a simple matter of allocating space for a few pallets at a time so the material could be consolidated ready for collection by RecoMed’s logistics partners.
Outcomes
By partnering with RecoMed, Grundon have improved their green credentials, achieved positive brand exposure and taken another step towards corporate social responsibility goals. Alongside this, Grundon’s hospital customers are welcoming Grundon’s input in helping them increase recycling, cut waste disposal bills, and improve their own environmental credentials.
“Working with RecoMed has been simple and straightforward. It’s fantastic to be able to offer the service to our customers, move these items up the waste hierarchy, and know the materials are going to good use.”
James Killick MCIWM, Compliance Advisor, Grundon Waste Management Ltd
