Our recycling journey – one year on
We are committed to creating a healthier environment for our patients and communities, by delivering projects that make our hospitals and services more sustainable.
Last year, we introduced a number of new initiatives to make recycling in our hospitals easier and one year on, we’re pleased to say that we have seen huge improvements.
Since April 2024, we have improved on our waste segregation options to encourage more recycling. Through this, we have increased the amount of waste we are recycling by 32%, cutting our CO2 emissions by 500 tonnes and reducing our waste disposal cost by 25%.
Congratulations to our waste team whose work on this amazing project was awarded ‘Highly Commended’ for the category of Sustainability/Social Value at the Healthcare Supply Association (HCSA) national conference.
Alongside recycling, there are many other sustainability projects in the works across our hospitals. Most recently, the Trust has recorded success with Public Service Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) and Low Carbon skills fund application for grants worth over £600k to help with our heat decarbonisation plan and develop a digital twin for our sites. Through this, Mile End Hospital is to install 393 new solar panels, in a groundbreaking new project to slash our energy prices.
Further to this we re-launched the return and reuse walking aid scheme in our hospitals, regularly donate unwanted items to charities to ensure that the only items we are sending to landfill can no longer be reused, and we have a range of active travel schemes available to encourage our staff to incorporate movement into their journey to work, save money and support the environment.
Thank you to all colleagues involved in our many sustainability projects for helping Barts Health become a greener place.
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