Lind Research Unit making strides to reduce waste
Staff on the Lind Research Unit, based in Derriford Hospital, have been reviewing their ‘waste‘ to see what they can do to improve the segregation of waste, reduce the amount generated and redistribute where possible. A lot of waste is generated from their study kits, most of which was being disposed of in the general waste bins, but could still be used in other settings. They have installed a variety of colourful bins:
- one for items that could be recycled (drinks bottles, cardboard boxes etc)
- one for items that could be redistributed elsewhere in the hospital, surplus to need on Lind
- one for items that could be redistributed elsewhere, including items sent out to Ukraine
- one for items that could be given to the scrap store / schools such as slides, pipettes and bags (no sharps)
To give an idea of what they have already managed to do with unused ensemble kits, outpatients were given around 300 gold top bottles and 150 butterfly needles, these were in date and happily welcomed as the hospital was short of bottles, and butterfly needles aren’t normally used due to cost but are easier to use on patients who have poor access.
In addition, they gave the scrap store on Union Street five big boxes which contained a mixture of bags, pipettes and kit bottles. These will be used for art by students and used as storage for art supplies.
