The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group

1. 4.7M grant to boost plastics and textiles recycling

Two new grants have been unveiled to fund capital infrastructure projects in England which aim to help to drive up the recycling of plastic packaging and textiles.

The grants have been launched as part of the £18 million Resource Action Fund, launched by Defra in May 2019, and are focused on increasing reprocessing infrastructure for plastics and textiles.

The grants which will be managed by WRAP, will see these two sectors sharing up to £4.7 million, with applicants being able to apply for between £200,000 and £1 million.

Read more here

2. Major study finds no conclusive link to health risks from municipal incinerators

Researchers have found no link between exposure to emissions from municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) and infant deaths or reduced foetal growth.

However, they show living closer to the incinerators themselves is associated with a very small increase in the risk of some birth defects, compared to the general population.

But whether this is directly related to the incinerator or not remains unclear. The findings come from the largest and most comprehensive analysis to date of the effects of municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) on public health in the UK.

Read more here

3. CIWM partners with the University of Northampton for new MSc

CIWM has announced a partnership with the University of Northampton to help deliver an MSc Advanced Industrial Practice (Wastes Management) students.

The qualification is aimed specifically at those working in wastes management and who are already or would be eligible to become Chartered Waste Managers and who want to develop their expertise within their current profession.

Read more here

4. Funding for smart, local energy systems

UK organisations can apply for a share of up to £30 million to develop clean, cheap local energy systems that create prosperous, resilient UK communities. This funding is from the ISCF’s Prospering from the Energy Revolution challenge.

Read more here

5. Disposal of Hazardous and Clinical Waste (Ministry of Defence, IMOC, Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA))

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group

1. The UK Research and Innovation Strength in Places Fund

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Strength in Places Fund is supporting consortia of businesses and research organisations to build on their existing research and innovation capability and present plans for new activities that will have a demonstrable impact on local economic growth.

This first competition stage is an expression of interest (EoI). Consortia will set out plans for large collaborative proposals. Following assessment, successful EoIs will be selected to receive seedcorn funding to further develop a proposal for a full stage project.

Successful bids to the first stage will be awarded up to £50,000 to develop full-stage proposals over a period of six months. In the second stage, those awarded early-stage funding will be eligible to bid for up to £50 million of funding to carry out projects designed to drive significant local economic growth.

Projects can be led by either a UK-based business or a UK publicly funded research organisation. Project consortia must be based within the project’s geographical area and have the support of local civic leadership.

For more information, click here

2. The Resource Action Fund

The £18 million Resource Action Fund has been established by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to support resource efficiency projects, with the goal of diverting, reducing and better managing waste. The Fund will support key policy outcomes in the areas of food, plastics, textiles, recycling infrastructure and litter.
The overall programme is broken down into Large and Small Scale grants. The first strand to open to applications is the Waste Prevention Grant, which aims to improve how organisations handle and distribute leftover food, by investing in infrastructure such as weighing equipment, storage solutions, warehouses, industrial freezers and fridges, labeling equipment and vehicles.

The Large Scale strand will provide capital infrastructure to help address a current capacity gap for redistributing food produced by businesses that is currently being wasted, diverting this to people in need. The Small Scale strand will provide new small-scale capital infrastructure and revenue support to organisations redistributing surplus food from the likes of retailers and food manufacturers.
There is a budget of £5 million for Large Scale grants and individual awards of between £200,000 and £1 million will be provided. £1 million has been allocated for Small Scale grants, supporting projects ranging in value from £20,000 to £170,000.

For more information, click here

3. Revitalising green spaces at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood, on the outskirts of London, is starting work on a two-year programme to redesign several green spaces in the hospital grounds.

For more information, click here

4. The IWUN Project

The Improving Wellbeing through Urban Nature (IWUN) project, is a three year research project awarded £1.3m by the Natural Environment Research Council’s Valuing Nature Programme. It aims to find out more about how Sheffield’s natural environment can improve the health and wellbeing of the city’s residents, and especially those with disproportionately high levels of poor health.

One of the outcomes of the research has been the valuing of green prescribing and how it can be better included within the concept of social prescribing. Part of the work has been to create an infographic to help translate the evidence more clearly.

To see the infographic, click here

5. Manchester’s NHS Foundation Trust launches gamification staff behaviour change scheme

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) has become the first NHS Trust to sign up to the JUMP employee engagement initiative, in a bid to encourage its 20,000+ employees to develop habits which improve the organisation’s environmental impact while also boosting their own wellbeing.

Read more here

The healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group

1. The biggest contributors to freshwater plastics pollution revealed

The Plastic Rivers report, published in association with Plastic Oceans UK, has analysed data from nine studies of freshwater sources across the UK and Europe, revealing the top ten plastic pollutants in the UK’s rivers and lakes. 

It ranked types of macroplastic by prevalence, focusing on consumer items and excluding items relating to fishing, agriculture and industry. 

Plastic bottles are the biggest contributor to freshwater plastic pollution, followed by food wrappers and cigarette butts, the research found.

Read the report here

2. Compendium of best practice on managing drug resistant TB

The first Compendium of good practices in the implementation of the Tuberculosis Action Plan for the WHO European Region has been published, with interesting lessons from across the region

To read the document, click here

3. Smart funding grants from Innovate UK

Smart is the new name for Innovate UK’s ‘Open grant funding’ programme.

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £25 million in the best game-changing, innovative or disruptive ideas with a view to commercialisation.

All proposals must be business focused, rather than pure research. Applications can come from any area of technology (including arts, design, media or creative industries), science or engineering and be applied to any part of the economy.

Whilst we welcome projects that overlap with the grand challenge areas, we are also keen to support projects that are entirely outside these. Working in these areas is not a requirement to be eligible.

For more information and to apply, click here

4. The Global Forum 2019 Tanzania:
Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns in the Health Sector

UNDP and Medical Stores Department (MSD) are organising the “2^nd Saving Lives Sustainably – Sustainable Procurement in the Health Sector: Global Forum 2019″ on 18-19 July in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

For more details and to register, click here

5. Environment Agency assessment and scoring system for environmental permit compliance

How the Environment Agency assesses and scores environmental permit compliance for:

• waste operations and installations
• discharges to surface water and groundwater

These guides include:

• 6 principles which explain how the Environment Agency assesses and scores permit compliance
• an explanation of what happens after a compliance assessment
• an explanation of how the Environment Agency uses the results of an assessment, including how this affects subsistence charges for waste operations and installations

Read more here

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group

1. Interserve awarded place on £450m NHS framework until 2022

Troubled contractor Interserve has been awarded a place on the NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) framework for infrastructure and car park management.

The framework is available to a range of public sector organisations and will operate until November 2022, offering the potential to generate sales of up to £450m throughout its term.

Read more here

2. Guidance on accumulating radioactive waste that you cannot transfer because of EU Exit

The UK’s exit from the EU may result in restricted supplies of radioactive materials and you may not be able to transfer radioactive waste to destinations outside the UK. The Environment Agency has published two EU Exit regulatory position statements – one on exceeding permit limits and the other on accumulating radioactive waste

3. Vacancy for an officer: waste permitting and installation (x 2)  Natural Resources Wales
Salary: £29,243

To determine permit applications in accordance with recognised NRW policy, process, guidance and procedures. Support the Permitting Service and respond to internal and external customer queries. The post holder will provide expertise on waste permitting issues.

For more information and to apply, click here

4. EU consultation on formaldehye

Provisional agreement has been reached at EU level to add formaldehyde, widely used in the healthcare sector, to the list of recognised cancer-causing chemicals in the workplace. The EU Commission will consult social partners (including HOSPEEM and CEEP, of which the NHS Confederation is a member) before presenting a legislative proposal, which will provide the opportunity for us to feed in to and shape the consultation response even if the UK has left the EU by this stage.

Read more here

5. The 2019 International Hospital Federation Awards

The International Hospital Federation Awards honours hospitals and health service provider organisations for innovation, excellence, outstanding achievements and best practices in areas that are worthy of international recognition. Open to NHS Confederation members, the deadline for applications to showcase your work is May 17.

For more details, click here

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group

1. Glove awareness week

To coincide with World Hand Hygiene Day on 5 May, NHS England are hosting a Glove Awareness Week to raise awareness of skin health and appropriate glove use by nursing staff

For more information, click here

2. Research explores the value of NHS green space for workplace wellbeing

Can green space help ease the burden of workplace stress in the NHS? Our research is exploring the experience of three NHS hospitals that have actively encouraged their staff to enjoy their sites’ natural outdoor spaces. The research will evaluate the benefits as well as identifying barriers to change, and ways to address these. Is it feasible for hard-pressed ward staff to find time for an outdoor break? How can hospitals make walking for health part of their working culture? The evaluation, at health sites in Preston, Essex and London, is supported by the Health Foundation, an independent charity committed to bringing about better health and health care for people in the UK.

Read more here

3. Kingston Hospital reuse and refurbishment case study

Paul Graham, Utilities, Waste and Sustainability Manager at Kingston Hospital, tells us how a fire risk prompted their reuse journey. They’ve since set up a storage area and target people around the trust, including reception staff, housekeepers, and department administrators, who regularly order things. They’ve saved thousands of pounds and have refurbished and reused many items of furniture

Read more here

4. Statistical count of in-year workplace deaths where HSE is the relevant enforcing authority

These statistics cover workplace fatal injuries that are reportable under the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) where HSE is the relevant enforcing authority and are updated on a quarterly basis. (They do not include incidents where Local authorities or Office of Rail and Road are the relevant enforcing authority.  However, these cases are included in the published annual count.).

Read more here

5. New bill aims to make single-use nappies history

A bill has been launched in Parliament designed to promote the use of reusable nappies.

The Nappy (Environmental Standards) Bill was launched on 27 March, by SNP MP for Glasgow East, David Linden. It sets out plans to establish an industry and government-led campaign to encourage parents to take up reusable cloth nappies.

Read more here

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group

1. ISWA Awards (deadline April 30)

Each year ISWA honours excellent efforts and creative ideas that increase awareness and promote sustainable waste management in three different categories: publication, video and communications campaign. Each ISWA Award is recognised at the annual ISWA World Congress.

For more information, click here

2. A round up of the latest funding opportunities for energy efficiency

There has been significant activity from government in the energy sector recently with a number of funding calls now open.  The details are below, along with links to the relevant information pages.

For more information, click here

3. Environment Agency charge proposals from April 2019

The proposals in this consultation follow various changes implemented in April 2018 as a result of our Strategic Review of Charges (SRoC) programme.  This consultation seeks your views on further charge proposals which we have developed to take effect in England from April 2019.  The proposed changes are designed to add clarity to existing charging schemes, accommodate changes to the cost of regulation and make new charging scheme changes that were not included in the SRoC. 

Read more here

4. The NHS Long Term Plan and climate change

The NHS Long Term Plan has committed the NHS to deliver carbon reductions in line with the Climate Change Act, to phase out the most polluting fossil fuels for heating and dramatically reduce air pollution from NHS travel; as well as action on waste, water and plastics. These are serious commitments with hard targets to combatting climate change and other environmental impacts. The specific focus on the high carbon impacts of the fluorinated gases in inhalers, anaesthetics and nitrous oxide (together over 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent a year) shows that commitments go beyond the low hanging fruit of estates and energy efficiency into areas of service design, procurement and prescription of drugs and medical devices.  Delivering on air pollution reduction from road travel in service provision will also cut carbon emissions and require wider service design thinking.

Read more here

5. Call for abstracts for the ICE Journal

Abstract submissions are invited for articles on any new development and research programmes that focus on a range of ways in which waste and resource management initiatives can improve our waste and resource utilisation to fulfill circular-economy objectives. Deadline Monday 29 April.

For more information, click here

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group

1.Clean growth collaboration for the Northwest England launched by local government and business leaders

A collection of local government, university, and business leaders have joined forces to secure £500m of ‘game-changing’ investment into the future of clean growth in the north west of England.

Made up of council leaders and private and public partners from the Liverpool City Region, Cheshire, Warrington and Greater Manchester, the group said they have announced their collaboration in response to the government’s challenge to establish a low-carbon industrial cluster by 2030.

Read more here

2. Industry leaders seek Sector Deal for resources

Senior figures in the UK’s waste and resources sector are leading efforts to draw up a ‘Sector Deal’ for resources to leverage government support for innovation and investment in the industry.

The work is being overseen by a new body, the UK Resources Council, which is chaired by Suez UK chief executive David Palmer-Jones, and is supported by the Environmental Services Association (ESA).

Read more here

3. Brexit strategy updates from the NHS Confederation and the Government for the waste industry

As the road to Brexit continues to twist and turn, the NHS Confederation is providing frequent updates to support the NHS in your preparation for EU Exit. This includes links to recent guidance, and an overview of what the latest parliamentary developments mean for the NHS.

Read more here

With or without a deal, all existing consents which authorise the export of hazardous waste, known as ‘notified waste’, to any EU country will remain valid when we leave the EU. Companies that export waste from the UK will see no change in the processes that govern the export of ‘non-notified waste’ (‘green-list’ wastes) to the EU.

However, in the event of no deal, changes to border controls may impact on some waste exports.

For more information, click here

4. Launch of the Clean Air Hospital Framework

On 5th of March, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Global Action Plan launched the first ever Clean Air Hospital Framework (CAHF). The Framework sets out short and long-term plans to tackle air quality for the benefit of patients, staff and the surrounding community.

Read more here

5. Nestle, PepsiCo and Unilever team up with recycling group to change its packaging

A coalition of the world’s biggest consumer brands announced they have teamed up with a recycling giant to change the world’s reliance on single-use packaging.

The new initiative was announced on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where global recycling leader TerraCycle joined massive brand partners such as PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Nestle and Procter & Gamble on stage to unveil its new project called Loop.

Read more here

Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group

1. UNDP and Health Care Without Harm launch the One Planet Sustainable Public Procurement Programme

On 20 February 2019 in Paris, UNDP and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) launched the health sector task team of the One Planet Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) programme. SPP is one of the six programmes of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production implemented by the One Planet Network, a global initiative, adopted at the Rio+20 summit key for implementing and reporting on the Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Sustainable Consumption and Production).

Read more here

2. Tender for the Provision of Needle Exchange Equipment, Safe Disposal of Clinical Waste, Oversight, Training and Payment of Pharmacies for Service Delivery 2019: North Somerset Council
North Somerset Council invites tenders for Needle exchange services delivered by community pharmacies.
Needle exchanges are important in preventing the spread of Blood Borne Viruses (BBVs) (NICE PH52); a 2004 World Health Organisation (WHO) study states that “needle exchange services substantially and cost effectively reduce the spread of BBV’s without increasing injecting use”. They are particularly important in relation to Hepatitis C (HCV); injecting drug users are the largest group most at risk of contracting HCV, with approximately 80% of new HCV infections in the UK being attributed to this group. The WHO has a target to eradicate HCV by 2030; a target NHS England aim to exceed by at least 5 years.
Needle Exchanges also provide a mechanism for the safe disposal of injecting paraphernalia which helps prevent accidental needle stick injuries and reduces litter. Furthermore, they provide an important way of moving individuals towards less risky methods of drug use and provide referral routes into treatment and other services.
For pharmacy needle exchanges to function efficiently, a regular supply of suitable high-quality injecting equipment and clinical waste collection and disposal service is required. It is also essential that pharmacy staff operating the needle exchange service are suitable trained in the type of equipment available to enable them to advise service users on the products most suited to their needs and to importantly offer harm minimisation advice. Further information and tender documents can be found here: https://procontract.due-north.com/Opportunities/Index?resetFilter=True&applyFilter=True&p=696a9836-1895-e511-8105-000c29c9ba21&v=1

Value of contract: £231k

Published date: 11 March 2019

Closing date: 03 April 2019

Contract start date: 01 July 2019

Contract end date: 30 June 2024

Contact name: Michelle Dickson

Address

Town Hall
Walliscote Grove Road
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1UJ
United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 1275888250

Email: michelle.dickson@n-somerset.gov.uk

3. Northern network master class on plastics, by the Sustainable Development Unit, on 28 March, 2019

The master class will cover what the NHS can do, including what to do about single use clinical waste.

For more information click here

4. New journal article examining the impact on life cycle carbon footprint of converting from disposable to reusable sharps containers in a large US hospital

Sustainable purchasing can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at healthcare facilities (HCF). A previous study found that converting from disposable to reusable sharps containers (DSC, RSC) reduced sharps waste stream GHG by 84% but found transport distances impacted significantly on GHG outcomes and recommended further studies where transport distances are large. This case-study examines the impact on GHG of nation-wide transport distances when a large US health system converted from DSC to RSC.

Read the article here

5. Five vie to deliver waste tracking system

Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group

1.Biffa acquires specialist Waste Recycling Limited

Integrated waste management company Biffa has announced that it has today (12 March) acquired Specialist Waste Recycling Limited (‘SWRNewstar’), from a consortium of investors including Angus MacDonald OBE.

Read more here

2. Additional time to enter the Letsrecycle.com 2019 Awards for Excellence

Following a late surge in demand, the deadline for entries to letsrecycle.com’s 2019 Awards for Excellence has been extended to March 20.

Local authorities, businesses, individuals, and waste and recycling companies will now have extra time to submit an entry into the wide-ranging awards scheme, which covers 16 categories.

Organised by letsrecycle.com, the annual celebration of hard work and innovation in the waste sector will take place at the five-star Landmark Hotel in the heart of London on 9 May.

For more information, click here

3. Tender for the collection, transfer and treatment of clinical waste and dead animals: Leicestershire County Council

The Authority is seeking to appoint a single contractor to:
(i) Provide and site Containers (wheeled bins) for the Collection of the Clinical Waste from the Collection Point(s). The Specification for Containers is detailed in the draft contract attached as Schedule 2 but any queries can be made through clarifications until the deadline for questions.
(ii) Collect the filled Containers (and replace with empty Containers) and collect Dead Animals on a weekly basis unless otherwise requested by the Authority. The Contractor shall collect the Containers/Dead Animals within twenty four hours of being requested.
(iii) Transfer the Waste collected in the Containers and the Dead Animals to one or more Treatment Sites to be provided by the Contractor.
(iv) Provide one or more Delivery Points where the Authority and those authorised by the Authority can deliver Waste that has not been collected by the contractor.
(v) Treat (high temperature clinical waste incineration) and dispose of the Waste.

Contact name: Helen Tasker

Address

County Hall
Glenfield
Leicester
LE3 8RA
England

Telephone: +44 1163050688

Email: helen.tasker@leics.gov.uk

4. SPHS Member Agencies seek a consultancy firm to develop the Sustainable Procurement Index for Health

The Index will provide an incentive for entities to improve their environmental and social sustainability record. No such measurement tool currently exists to monitor; (I) Greenhouse gas emissions, (II) resource depletion (water, energy and material consumption), (III) chemical/toxic impact on human health and the environment (IV) human, labour rights and gender equality.

Deadline 22 March 2019. For more information, click here

5. Brexit: latest updates from NHS Confederation and NHS England

Read more here and here

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group

1. The US Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council releases a guide to plastics commonly generated in clinical settings

According to the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, St. Paul, Minnesota, roughly 1 million tons of clean, noninfectious healthcare plastics are generated in U.S. health care facilities annually.

This guide includes the most commonly generated health care plastic streams; how to partner with hospitals for a successful recycling program; recycling options, including common steps in mechanically processing health care plastics; case studies and other helpful resources; and technical specifications for common health care plastics.

For more information, click here

2. Interserve likely to go into administration

Interserve is likely to go into administration on Friday. Directors on the company, that employs 45,000 people in the UK, have told the BBC the firm has “a mountain to climb” to prevent it collapsing under the weight of its nearly £650m in debt.

Read more here

3. Innovate UK Smart Grants

Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £20 million in the best game-changing or disruptive ideas with a view to commercialisation.

All proposals must be business focused, rather than pure research. Applications can come from any area of technology (including arts, design, media or creative industries), science or engineering and be applied to any part of the economy.

Whilst we welcome projects that overlap with the grand challenge areas, we are also keen to support projects that are entirely outside these. Working in these areas is not a requirement to be eligible.

For more information, click here

4. Analysis for innovators round 4 expression of interest

UK businesses can apply for a share of up to £4 million to work with the best scientists and research facilities to resolve productivity and competitiveness issues.

These projects will help UK companies solve analysis and measurement problems, to improve their productivity and competitiveness.

The aim of this competition is to match the best UK scientists and cutting-edge facilities with companies that have analysis or measurement problems. Your application must describe the problem and estimate the value to your company of solving it.

This is an expression of interest (EoI) competition.

Successful applicants at this EoI phase will be invited to brokerage sessions with relevant analysis for innovators (A4I) partners. These will focus on how to approach solving the applicant’s problem. If the applicant and A4I partners agree an approach, they will work together to suggest joint projects to develop solutions.

Successful phase 2 applications will be grant funded through matched funding to work with the relevant A4I funding partners.

• Competition opens: Monday 25 February 2019
• Competition closes: Wednesday 20 March 2019 12:00pm

For more information, click here

5. Letsrecycle Live

Letsrecycle Live, which features live and static equipment, conference theatres and networking events takes place at Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry on 22-23 May.

For more information, click here