Category Archives: News stories

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Waste Stories 11/7/2016

 

10th anniversary1.Results of our sector research survey

In May/June we had asked for feedback on challenges faced by the UK healthcare waste sector currently and also within the next 5 years, as well as on research needs. The main results suggest the following:

Key current challenges:

  • Effective waste segregation
  • Improvement in sustainability and carbon footprinting
  • Training and dedicated waste managers

Challenges in the next five years:

  • Reducing carbon footprint
  • Implementation costs of waste management systems
  • Effective waste segregation

Key areas for research:

  • Implementing effective segregation approaches
  • benchmarking/comparison across the EU and between different types of healthcare providers
  • Evaluation of best available technologies

2. Vacancy for Clinical Programme Manager

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) is looking for a highly able and motivated individual with experience of providing front-line clinical care in the NHS to join the clinical programme team at CSH. This is a full-time post, salary £35,000 per year, to start September 2016.

View more details here

3.Call for European energy innovation proposals

KIC InnoEnergy is looking to invest in businesses and help develop innovative products, services, and solutions that have high commercial potential.

Read more here

4. International Managing Director vacancy at HCWH

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is hiring an International Managing Director to help lead HCWH’s global work and build its network around the world.  It is searching globally for the best person.

HCWH is looking for a dynamic manager with deep international experience, multiple cultural competencies and a strong organizing background to serve as the International Managing Director.  The position requires excellent people and organizational skills. Working with and reporting to the International Director for Program and Strategy, this position will help lead the ongoing international development of HCWH.

Location: Flexible and virtual capable; provided willingness to partially overlap with Pacific Standard Time business hours. Office co-location possible in Boston, Buenos Aires, Brussels, Manila, Reston, or San Francisco.

Position Status: Full time employment
Candidate must be willing and able to travel extensively
View more details here
5. Defra delays 25 year plan
Defra has informed the industry that its 25 Year Environment Plan will NOT now be published before the end of 2016 and, in addition, the framework for the Plan that was expected this summer will also not be being published.

In a letter to stakeholders, Defra’s 25 Year Environment Plan, explained that the original timings of the framework and the subsequent Plan “did not take into account [Britain’s] decision to leave the EU. As a result we will not be publishing the framework this summer or the plan by the end of the year”.

The letter added that “[Defra wants] to reassure you that Government is committed to developing a long term plan for the environment. The reason for the delay is because the outcome of the EU referendum vote provides us with the opportunity to expand the scope of the plan to consider a long-term vision for the type of environment we want in Britain outside of the EU.

“We want to design an effective approach to driving environmental improvement, tailored to the needs of our country that has a powerful and permanent impact. Development of this will need to be informed by significant engagement with input from all interested parties across many sectors to inform the long term plan.”

Defra offers no new timescale for a post-Brexit Environment Plan, which was originally revealed in its “`Single departmental plan: 2015 to 2020” report, which set out its objectives for 2016, which included developing new approaches for tackling waste crime, including using £20m from reform of the Landfill Communities Fund, and for tackling litter.

 

6. Food waste recycling action plan for England launched

England’s first action plan designed to increase the quantity and quality of household and commercial food waste collected and recycled has been launched by WRAP.

The Food Waste Recycling Action Plan, developed by an industry steering group – including local authorities, waste treatment operators, private sector waste collectors and industry bodies – aims to increase the amount of food waste collected and recycled by promoting greater collaboration across the food waste recycling supply chain.

Read the plan here

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Waste Stories 30/5/2016

 

10th anniversary1.The impact of NHS deficits

The deteriorating state of NHS finances in England has been well documented.

Some who follow the subject closely argued that the £2.45bn deficit across health trusts in England in the last financial year was not as bad as it might have been.

Read the story here

2.Healthcare waste management sector survey

We would like to get a sense of the needs for the sector so that we can conduct research that is more applied and relevant. Therefore, we have developed a short survey (only 3 questions), that we would like some feedback on.

Please complete the anonymous survey here. It will close by June 3. Thanks in advance

3. Duty of care waste transfer note

Please click here

4.The Green Alley Award

The Green Alley Award is a start-up competition focused on the green economy, dealing specifically with the challenges of the throwaway society, the scarcity of resources and the recovery of raw materials. It is targeted at ‘green’ entrepreneurs from across Europe with business ideas for the circular economy and new ways of improving the waste and recycling industries.

The theme of the Awards is about connecting green ideas across Europe. Green Alley is looking for ideas, new services, products and technologies that can turn waste into a resource. In return it offers strategic support, networking opportunities and financing to boost business across Europe.

All competition finalists will be invited to Berlin later in the year to participate in a one-day event with networking and learning opportunities. In individual workshops the start-ups will learn how to start, finance and boost a green business. All finalists are expected to pitch their business idea to an expert jury who will then select the winner of the Green Alley Award 2016.

The winner receives a cash prize of €7,000 and a package of additional benefits, including rent-free space in a co-working environment in Berlin for six months, coupled with the opportunity to pitch for an investment or crowdfunding.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 27 July 2016.

For more information click http://green-alley-award.com/

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Waste Stories 23/5/2016

10th anniversary1.Healthcare waste management sector survey

We would like to get a sense of the needs for the sector so that we can conduct research that is more applied and relevant. Therefore, we have developed a short survey (only 3 questions), that we would like some feedback on.

Please complete the anonymous survey here. It will close by June 3. Thanks in advance

2.The Environment Agency’s senior management structure

Please click here

3. Technical manager vacancy: CIWM

The CIWM is at an exciting and important stage in its development. The current Manager of the Technical department is moving on to a new role after 12 years, and we are now seeking candidates with a sound technical knowledge of wastes, resources and sustainability as well as proven leadership and management experience.

See the details here

4.Scottish Low carbon skills fund

The Low Carbon Skills Fund gives Scottish businesses with under 100 employees the opportunity to apply for up to £5000 towards employee training costs in areas such as renewable energy and low-carbon technologies, energy efficiency, waste management and reuse, and reducing carbon in supply and energy management.

We refund up to 50% of employee training costs, up to a maximum of £1000 per employee. It’s an opportunity to further develop within your industry and help Scotland become more sustainable.

Eligible training includes:

  • Renewable energy, low carbon technologies and microgeneration
  • Energy efficiency, environmental and clean technologies
  • Waste management and re-use
  • Reducing carbon in supply and energy management.

For more information, please click here

 

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Waste Stories 16/5/2016

 

10th anniversary

1.Duty of care update with guidance for the definition of waste published

See the document here

2.International Festival for Business (13 June – 1 July: Liverpool)

The International Festival for Business 2016 which brings together thousands of delegates from around the world to create connections, share ideas and do business.

The festival will provide significant opportunities to promote the UK globally and boost business for British companies through trade and investment. The second week of the programme is designed around “Energy & Environment”. There will be a free one day brokerage, matchmaking and information event focusing on Horizon 2020, technology transfer and commercial opportunities for businesses making the transition to a circular economy and becoming more resource efficient.

Read more here

3.The Carbon Trust launches £7 million Energy Saving Green Business Fund

The new £7 million funding programme, launched by energy consultants at the Carbon Trust, will support 1,000 – 2,000 SMEs across the UK in several key business areas such as energy saving training, cost saving assessments and capital investment for the installation of energy efficiency equipment.

Eligible companies will have an opportunity to purchase a range of equipment to improve their heating, ventilation systems, lighting and air conditioning systems.

For more information click here

4.ISO 13485 Standard published

The latest edition of ISO 13485, the internationally recognised quality management systems standard for the medical device industry, with over 27,000 certificates globally, has been published.

The standard provides an effective framework to meet the comprehensive requirements for a medical devices quality management system; for manufacturers and service providers to both comply and demonstrate their compliance to regulatory requirements.

Read more here

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Waste Stories 9/5/2016

 

10th anniversary1.Vacancy for Clinical lead: sustainability with the Royal College of Physicians (RCP)

Applications are invited for the new role of RCP Sustainability Clinical Lead. The College is looking for a fellow (or of equivalent standing) of the RCP with extensive experience of, and enthusiasm for, implementing sustainable healthcare initiatives. The role will be fully supported by the sustainability clinical fellow – a doctor-in-training seconded to the RCP within the National Clinical Director’s Fellowship Programme for one year – and the treasurer Professor Linda Luxon, who would be happy to talk to you about the role.

The deadline for applications is May 27.

For further details click here

2.UK health alliance on climate change initiative launched

The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change was recently launched to support better approaches to tackle climate change that protect and promote public health whilst also reducing the burden on the NHS. The Alliance will lobby the UK government to put the right infrastructre and policies in place to mitigate and adapt to climate change.  It will also work with local and national organisations to improve the resilience of health services.

Read more here

3. ERDF funding calls for environment and resource efficiency, and low carbon initiatives in Birmingham and Solihull

Two new Calls have been launched under the European Regional Development Fund strand of the European Structural and Investment Funds for the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP area.

Environment and Resource Efficiency Call

Grants from a minimum of £500,000 are available to preserve and protect the environment and promote resource efficiency, specifically the following:

  • Protecting and restoring biodiversity and soil and promoting ecosystem services, including through Natura 2000, and green infrastructure.
  • Promoting innovative technologies to improve environmental protection and resource efficiency in the waste sector, water sector and with regard to soil, or to reduce air pollution.

The total available budget is £6.3 million and funding will be awarded for up to three years.

Low Carbon Call

Grants from a minimum of £500,000 are available to support the shift to low carbon economy in all sectors and specifically:

  • Promoting the production and distribution of energy derived from renewable resources.
  • Promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in enterprises.
  • Supporting energy efficiency, smart energy management and renewable energy use in public infrastructure, including in public buildings, and in the housing sector.
  • Promoting low-carbon strategies for all types of territories, in particular for urban areas, including the promotion of sustainable multimodal urban mobility and mitigation-relevant adaptation measures.
  • Promoting research and innovation in, and adoption of, low-carbon technologies.

The total available budget is £5.4 million and funding will be awarded for up to three years.

The application deadline for both Calls is 27 May 2016.

For more information click here

4. RBS Innovation Gateway – grants for testing resource efficiency innovations

The Innovation Gateway challenge aims to help businesses get their products tested and into a wider market, quickly and successfully. RBS is looking to identify innovative ideas and ‘garage-tested’ green solutions that could also encourage resource efficiency.

RBS, alongside Sainsbury’s, Carillion and BaxterStorey, will provide support to SMEs, entrepreneurs and inventors with pioneering ideas that could potentially address an infrastructure challenge they are facing across their property estates. Businesses, innovators and inventors will have the opportunity to test their ideas for enhancing engagement and cutting consumption of energy, water and waste on these properties.

Successful innovators will get the chance to trial their products with one or more of the Gateway partners. The provider will ask conceptual and garage tested applicants what would be important to take their business forward on the application form. This could be funding, introductions to new corporate customers, access to advice and expertise, etc.

Market-ready innovators that proceed to trial with a Gateway Partner will receive full payment for all equipment, units, survey work etc.

Read more here

 

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Waste Stories 3/5/2016

10th anniversary1.UNDP Healthcare waste management toolkit

View the toolkit here

2.Launch of CIWM’s waste crime guide

Waste crime is a major problem in the UK, and is growing in scale every year. It can cause significant environmental problems for organisations and the community as a whole. The enforcing agencies are having their resources cut, whilst at the same time the financial rewards for evading the law are growing.
CIWM are delighted to be partnering with Dentons to launch the Fighting Waste Crime Guide: the real impact of waste crime on your organisation on May 11, 2016.

Register here

3. Top 30 global medical devices companies in 2015

See the list here

4. Government consults on new national innovation plan

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has issued a call for ideas to obtain public and professional feedback on ways to ensure the UK retains its position as a global leader in innovation.

The Government is mindful of changes in the nature of innovation and increased challenges to the UK’s position as an innovation leader, and is therefore seeking feedback in order to deliver a modern, robust innovation strategy that:
• builds and supports an open business environment that encourages innovation;
• promotes collaboration and the sharing of ideas to drive innovation opportunities;
• provides businesses with the confidence to invest in R&D and supports them to diffuse and scale the best ideas; and
• uses the power of procurement and customer demand to stimulate the development of innovative products.

The consultation closes on May 22 and can be accessed here

 

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Waste Stories 25/4/2016

 

10th anniversary1. Non-executive board members of CIWM Enterprises Ltd

There are two vacancies, the terms of office are three years commencing June 2016. There is no fee for the role of Non-Executive Director, however reasonable expenses will be covered. Applicants must be Members or Fellows or Licentiate of CIWM and must complete both nomination and application forms and return them to ceo@ciwm.co.uk by 12 noon on Thursday 28th April 2016.

Employees of either the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management or CIWM Enterprises Ltd should not apply. Shortlisted candidates will need to be available for interview on Friday 3rd June 2016.

Any questions or queries should be sent to ceo@ciwm.co.uk.

For application forms, job description and role and person specs, click here

2. UNDP and UNFPA seminar on sustainable procurement

The UNDP and UNFPA with the support of the UN informal Interagency Task Team on Sustainable Procurement in the Health Sector (SPHS) Secretariat are organizing a dialogue on “Fostering Sustainable Procurement: How Procurers Can Change the Global Health Sector” Wednesday, May 11, 2016, in UN City, Copenhagen. The event aims to bring together procurement practitioners from the global health aid market, to share the latest sustainable public and private procurement initiatives, showcase good-practice examples and advance the dialogue on how sustainable procurement practices and policies can be widely harmonized and scaled-up across the global health aid market.

For additional information contact: info@savinglivesustainably.org

To register click here

3. NUS and Philips lighting pay-per-lux scheme

The agreement between Philips Lighting, one of the largest lighting manufacturers in the world, and The National Union of Students is a world-first and it is hoped the agreement will act as an exemplar for future innovative business models.

The arrangement is similar to that of a traditional rental plan, as NUS pay a flat rate for the lease of the lighting systems and energy usage over a specified time period and do not have to pay any up-front costs to purchase the equipment outright.

Where the innovation lies, is that as part of the agreement Philips Lighting are committed to maintaining and upgrading the lighting solutions they have provided with their latest technology to make sure that they perform as efficiently as possible.

Philips provided at their cost a £100k, state-of-the-art, 7kW lighting system where energy consumption is measured against a baseline that will be calculated over the first few months of operation. When the energy consumption dips below this level, both NUS and Philips are rewarded, whereas if energy consumption is more than expected then Philips must pay a penalty, thus incentivising them to keep the building up-to-date with the most efficient lighting systems.

Read more here

4. Biopen lets doctors 3D print cartilage during surgery

If you need knee replacement surgery in the future, doctors may be able to create a custom-made joint from your own stem cells. A team from St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, have developed the Biopen, a type of 3D printer that uses “ink” made from hydrogel and stem cells. While 3D printing stem cells isn’t new, the exact shape of a patient’s cartilage often can’t be known until they’re cut open. Using the device, surgeons can precisely customise the joint to the patient with surgical “scaffolds,” then permanently harden the biogel using ultraviolet light.

Read the article here

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Waste stories 18/4/2016

20150615_123324

1.Webinar to launch the GGHH healthcare waste reduction measurement system (April 20 and 21)

During the upcoming webinar, GGHH will launch the waste reduction measurement system. This new tool will assist GGHH members to achieve their waste goals and to meet the principles of: reduce, reuse and recycle. The assessment tool provides for data entry on types of waste generated and the methods of treatment and disposal. The on-line dashboard illustrates the different types of waste generated and sent to each treatment or disposal method. It will also show the proportion of total waste that goes to the most environmentally sound treatment and disposal routes, such as non-burn disinfection and materials recycling.

There will be two sessions on April 20 to accommodate different time zones.

For more information and to register, please click here

2. US EPA announces its national enforcement priorities for 2017 – 2019

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its seven National Enforcement Initiatives for fiscal years 2017-2019, which focus on national pollution challenges where EPA’s enforcement efforts will protect public health. The fiscal year 2017-2019 National Enforcement Initiatives are:

1. Keeping Industrial Pollutants Out of the Nation’s Waters (new initiative)

2. Reducing Risks of Accidental Releases at Industrial and Chemical Facilities (new initiative)

3. Cutting Hazardous Air Pollutants (expanded initiative)

See the full list of priorities here

3. Government publishes National Infrastructure Delivery Plan 2016 – 2021

HM Treasury has published the Government’s National Infrastructure Delivery Plan (NIDP), outlining the detailed action plans the Government will take in order to support the delivery of key infrastructure projects over the period 2016-21.
The strategy aligns the delivery of key economic infrastructure projects with social and housing infrastructure projects under a single delivery plan for the first time, and commits spending worth £100 billion on infrastructure projects up to 2020, alongside significant investment from the private sector. It also aims to build on progress made over the course of the previous plan, which saw average annual infrastructure investment rise by 17% over the course of the previous Parliament, with total expenditure reaching over £250 million.
The plan chiefly consists of a series of both overarching and specific priorities and action plans relating to a range of economic and social infrastructure areas. Some of the main aspects covered by the new NIDP include the following:
  • Investment of £483 billion in over 600 infrastructure projects across all sectors and throughout the entire UK up to 2020 and beyond. This includes economic infrastructure investment worth £425 billion, while an additional £58 billion will go towards social infrastructure.
  • Private investment of over £100 billion in energy projects such as electricity generation, transmission and North Sea investment.
A range of other high level priorities and specific projects are also outlined in areas as diverse as science and research, housing and regeneration, water and waste, flood defences and airports and ports. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) will provide annual updates on progress against the NIDP, with the first report due in 2017.
The Plan can be viewed here
4. Blue wrap recycling
Thermal Compaction Group (TCG), with a variety of different partners, have leapt forward with technology and introduced new and exciting ways of recycling materials completely, therefore resulting in zero waste to landfill.
Read the full story here
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Waste Stories 11/4/2016

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1. Joint Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group and ISWA International conference (sponsored by Grundon Waste Management)

In conjunction with the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), the Group will be hosting an international conference on April 14 and 15, 2016. It will be held at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

One of the speakers will be Alexandra Hammond. Alexandra has a range of public and private sector experience and, over the past six years, has led the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the award-winning sustainability programme at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

This strategic programme saves over £4m per annum through efficiencies such as combined heat and power, effective engagement of people, and strategic procurement, and Alexandra has been instrumental in the implementation of the Trust’s energy performance contract (EPC), which will save an additional £1.5m per annum.

Alexandra holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy from Edinburgh University, she graduated with honours from Boston College in the USA, and has previously worked for an international hotel group as their lead environmental advisor for the UK.  She is a board member of the Energy Manager’s Association, and regularly advises government and industry on sustainability in the public sector.

The full programme can be found here: Programme – April 2016

 

Sponsors include: Daniels, Econix, GV Health, Frontier Medical Group, Newster, Sharpsmart, G+N Medical, Cloud Sustainability, SRCL and ISS Ltd.

Booking details can be found at: healthcare waste 2016 conference

PLEASE NOTE THAT BOOKINGS FOR THE DINNER AND SITE TOUR HAVE NOW CLOSED.

2. Recovering value from used medical instruments

The healthcare sector has a relevant environmental footprint because of the significant materials throughput, the hazardousness of certain wastes it generates and the energy intensive treatment necessary to manage them. Using semi-structured interviews carried out with stakeholders from hospitals in England and Italy, this study sought to understand how best to recover value from used laryngoscopes.

The full article written by Costanza Viani, Mentore Vaccari and Terry Tudor is available until May 26, please click here

3. UN Green Procurement Index Health Project Report

The UN informal Interagency Task Team on Sustainable Procurement in the Health Sector (SPHS) is pleased to announce the launch of the Green Procurement Index Health (GPIH) Phase 1 – 2015 Project Report.

The document explains the challenge of measuring green health procurement and describes what the UNDP, with the generous support from the Government of Denmark and UNDP Innovation Facility has done to improve the transparency of procurement in the health sector with regard to its environmental impact, and encourage UN agencies and their suppliers/manufacturers to produce, procure and supply in a more environmentally friendly manner in 2015.

The report can be found below:

4. Grundon expands internationally
A ground-breaking new agreement to develop waste facilities across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) has been signed by Grundon Waste Management and construction industry leader MAN Enterprise.

Neil Grundon, deputy chairman, said: “We’re incredibly excited about this new partnership, which enables us to broaden our operations into the international arena at a time when opportunities are sorely lacking in the UK and European markets.

Read the story here

5. Webinar on Medical Devices: Guidelines for Performing the Bacterial Endotoxins Test (BET)

Free 60-minute webinar to help ensure you are testing medical devices for endotoxin according to compendial requirements.

Lonza’s Scientific Support Specialists will cover topics such as:
• What constitutes a device?
• Calculating Endotoxin Release Limits (ERL)
• Establishing a sampling plan
• Suitability testing (test for interfering factors)

Two dates:

Tuesday, 12 April 2016: 11 AM PDT (Los Angeles), 2 PM EDT (New York)

or

Wednesday, 13 April 2016: 9 AM BST (London), 10 AM CEST (Berlin), 5 PM JST (Tokyo).

Register for one of the two dates here

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Waste Stories 7/4/2016

 

20150615_1233241. Joint Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group and ISWA International conference (sponsored by Grundon Waste Management)

In conjunction with the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), the Group will be hosting an international conference on April 14 and 15, 2016. It will be held at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

One of the speakers will be Richard Hales. Richard has spent the last 20 years studying and practising sustainability. Having successfully completed a PhD in the 1990s, in the rapidly evolving field of sustainable development and the built environment, he has worked across a broad range of public sector environmental sustainability roles – from tourism, to land-use planning, to community and now healthcare. Richard is currently employed as Energy and Sustainability Manager at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The full programme can be found here: Programme – April 2016

 

Sponsors include: Daniels, Econix, GV Health, Frontier Medical Group, Newster, Sharpsmart, G+N Medical, Cloud Sustainability, SRCL and ISS Ltd.

Booking details can be found at: healthcare waste 2016 conference

Directions at the venue are available here Directions to Governors Hall

2. E-learning resource on sustainable dentistry

A new e-learning resource support package on sustainable dentistry has been released on the award winning e-Learning for Healthcare (e-LfH) platform.

It provides an introduction to climate change and explores the main principles of sustainable practice and their application in dentistry. It encourages clinicians and managers to make sustainable choices and identifies practical tools and resources to support this.

The material has been developed by dentists, Dr Devika Vadher and Dr Divya Verma, working with CSH as Sustainable Dentistry Scholars – part-time roles funded by Health Education England’s Kent, Surrey and Sussex team.

View the resource here

3. NHS forest and greenspace programme lead job

NHS FOREST and GREENSPACE: PROGRAMME LEAD. Full-time for 15 months: June 2016 – September 2017 with potential to extend.

The position will provide the opportunity to develop your existing skills in writing proposals, project development and management, and managing external partnerships, while growing your understanding of environmental sustainability as it relates to health. You will lead on our business development for greenspace and identifying opportunities in the market. You will have time to make presentations at national and international meetings, write reports and papers and expand vibrant networks with excellent collaboration. You will help to build a strong team in this area.

Salary: £30,000 – £35,000

The job advert and application details can be found here: Centre for Sustainable Healthcare job

4. Sustainable nursing practice for a changing climate conference

On Wednesday April 13 the RCN will hosting its first ever ‘Nursing and Sustainability’ conference.

This free conference will bring together members of the nursing family interested in incorporating sustainability into their practice, and will feature presentations from senior leaders and commentators on sustainability in health and care, with a view to equipping delegates with practical ideas to take back to their own workplaces.

During the day attendees will consider the UK picture of climate change and the range of opportunities there are for nursing professionals to impact on sustainability where they work. The programme will also feature case studies illustrating the scope of possible change, and provide an opportunity for attendees to discuss these, and to consider challenges and opportunities for their own practice.

 

Book here