Category Archives: News stories

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Waste Stories 23/9/2014

 

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1. Seminar on September 25

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group will be hosting a seminar focusing on treatment technologies and recovering value from healthcare waste, on Thursday September 25.

It will be held at the Bywaters’ recycling facility, in East London. The morning session will be dedicated to presentations from a range of speakers. While in the afternoon, delegates will have the opportunity to tour the facility.

The event is being sponsored by Frontier Medical Group, Sharpsmart and Bywaters. Additional sponsors include GV Health, SRCL, MITIE, Econix and Independent Safety Services Ltd.

Registration forms and booking details, including early bird discounts are available at the link below. When you book, can you let us know: (1) if you would like to do the site tour in the afternoon, (2) if you require a car parking space and (3) if you have any disability requirements?

 Online registration form for the seminar

 2. Consultation on London waste infrastructure

A consultation on future waste infrastructure needs for London was launched on 30th July 2014. It closes on 31st October 2014.

Access the consultation document here: London infrastructure

3.US DEA ruling on the disposal of controlled drugs

This Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) ruling governs the secure disposal of controlled substances by registrants and ultimate users. These regulations will implement the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010 by expanding the options available to collect controlled substances from ultimate users for the purpose of disposal, including: take-back events, mail-back programs, and collection receptacle locations.
Read the ruling here: disposal of controlled drugs

 

4.Emory’s Ebola experience in managing healthcare waste

WASHINGTON – When two Ebola-infected patients were airlifted to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta in early August, dedicated staffers were prepared to care for the patients. But those staffers had to act quickly to deal with unanticipated challenges that came from regulators and some of the hospital’s contractors, who initially refused to dispose of the mountains of medical waste generated by the patients and the clinicians who cared for them, according to Dr. Aneesh Mehta.

Read the article here: Emory’s ebola experience

5.WHO’s global health initiative for needle safety

At the TEDMED conference in Washington, DC, Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny, assistant director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), revealed that the organization will announce its third-ever global health initiative and policy in October. The initiative this time is around needle safety.

Read the story here: WHO needle initiative

6.Food Waste: The Challenges

15th October | 2.00pm – 3.30pm | Committee Room 9, Palace of Westminster

Speakers include:

Mike Walters– Group Manager Waste & Water Resource, The John Lewis Partnership

Representative – Feeding the 5000

Keith James – Special Advisor, Waste & Resources Action Programme

Stephen Roscoe – Technical Director, Grundon Waste Management (tbc)

This parliamentary seminar will explore current food waste policy and the challenges which the UK still faces in this area. With much research showing the extent of food waste in the UK and its economic, environmental and as social impacts, this event will seek to examine the ways in which Government can respond to these concerns and support businesses, local authorities and households in reducing their food waste in a time of increasing pressure on finances and the environment.

This event will be chaired by Kerry McCarthy MP.

 Please email apsrg@policyconnect.org.uk for more information and to register.

 

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Waste Stories 15/9/2014

 

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1. Seminar on September 25

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group will be hosting a seminar focusing on treatment technologies and recovering value from healthcare waste, on Thursday September 25.

It will be held at the Bywaters’ recycling facility, in East London. The morning session will be dedicated to presentations from a range of speakers. While in the afternoon, delegates will have the opportunity to tour the facility.

The event is being sponsored by Frontier Medical Group, MITIE, Sharpsmart and Bywaters. Additional sponsors include GV Health, SRCL, Econix and Independent Safety Services Ltd.

Registration forms and booking details, including early bird discounts are available at the link below. When you book, can you let us know: (1) if you would like to do the site tour in the afternoon, (2) if you require a car parking space and (3) if you have any disability requirements?

 Online registration form for the seminar

2. OSHA Consultation

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ahs set out a consultation document to amend its injury and illness reporting requirements. The consultation closes on October 14, 2014

The document can be found here: OSHA consultation document

3. NERC-funded student helps analyse Ebola genome sequence

The virus, which is currently spreading through West Africa in the largest outbreak yet, has no known cure. Sequencing the genome and understanding the evolution of the disease may help researchers understand the disease and the risks it may pose in the future. Ultimately, this could help with vaccine development or therapies to treat the disease…..

Read the article here: NERC funded student analyses Ebola genome sequence

4. CDC advice on Ebola

The link below to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides advice on maanging the risks associated with Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever.

CDC advice on Ebola

5. New England Journal of Medicine articles on Ebola

Read the articles here: Ebola

 

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Waste Stories 08/9/2014

 

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1. Seminar on September 25 (The University of Northampton: transforming lives: inspiring change UoN environmental science courses)

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group will be hosting a seminar focusing on treatment technologies and recovering value from healthcare waste, on Thursday September 25.

It will be held at the Bywaters’ recycling facility, in East London. The morning session will be dedicated to presentations from a range of speakers. While in the afternoon, delegates will have the opportunity to tour the facility.

The event is being sponsored by Frontier Medical Group, MITIE, Sharpsmart and Bywaters. Additional sponsors include GV Health, SRCL, Econix and Independent Safety Services Ltd.

Registration forms and booking details, including early bird discounts are available at the link below. When you book, can you let us know: (1) if you would like to do the site tour in the afternoon, (2) if you require a car parking space and (3) if you have any disability requirements?

 Online registration form for the seminar

2. Consultation on the Environmental Regulation of healthcare risk waste storage and treatment

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to consult on whether the current regulatory model for the storage and treatment of healthcare risk waste is appropriate given the scale of some of the storage and treatment activities and emerging technologies and their potential for environmental impact. An alternative mode of regulation is proposed for smaller scale activities and views are sought on this. The closing date for the consultaton is September 19, 2014

View the consultation here: EPA consultation on waste storage

3. Setting European standards

Anne Woolridge describes an Eramus+ funded project to develop a healthcare qualification framework and e-learning platform.

Read the CIWM Magazine article here: Woolridge Sept 2014

Read the Magazine online here: CIWM Magazine

4. International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) World Congress 2014 research articles

The ISWA Special Issue of the Journal of Waste Management and Research (WM&R) contains the best research articles submitted for the ISWA World Congress 2014, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. One article focuses on managing healthcare waste in Brazil.

Read the articles here: ISWA special issue of WM&R

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Waste Stories 3/9/2014

 

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1. Seminar on September 25 (Bywaters: recycling made easy Bywaters)

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group will be hosting a seminar focusing on treatment technologies and recovering value from healthcare waste, on Thursday September 25.

It will be held at the Bywaters’ recycling facility, in East London. The morning session will be dedicated to presentations from a range of speakers. While in the afternoon, delegates will have the opportunity to tour the facility.

The event is being sponsored by Frontier Medical Group, MITIE, Sharpsmart and Bywaters. Additional sponsors include GV Health, SRCL, Econix and Independent Safety Services Ltd.

Registration forms and booking details, including early bird discounts are available at the link below. When you book, can you let us know: (1) if you would like to do the site tour in the afternoon, (2) if you require a car parking space and (3) if you have any disability requirements?

 Online registration form for the seminar

2.Concern about 2020 waste treatment capacity gap

More waste infrastructure will be needed by 2020 or risk a capacity gap, according to respondents of an opinion poll, the majority of which agreed with a recent Green Investment Bank (GIB) report, setting out the investment opportunity in the UK waste market.

The recent GIB report, The UK residual waste market: A market report by the UK Green Investment Bank, stressed more waste infrastructure will be needed in the UK by 2020 or risk a capacity gap.

Read the story here: worry about 2020 waste treatment capacity gap

3.Energy investment report

The report shows the significant progress made against the energy investment challenge inherited in 2010 where energy projects accounted for nearly 60% of the UK National Infrastructure Plan (£218bn out of the £377bn).

Since 2010, investment worth more than £45 billion has been secured in electricity infrastructure alone – the majority of this investment has been in renewable technologies..

Read the report here: energy investment report

4.Energy efficiency in hospitals

Read the report here: Carbon Trust energy efficiency in hospitals report

5.National Institutes of Health’ waste disposal guide

Read the guide here: Waste disposal guide

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Waste Stories 28/8/2014

 

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1. Seminar on September 25 (SRCL:specialising in protecting people and reducing risk SRCL)

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group will be hosting a seminar focusing on treatment technologies and recovering value from healthcare waste, on Thursday September 25.

It will be held at the Bywaters’ recycling facility, in East London. The morning session will be dedicated to presentations from a range of speakers. While in the afternoon, delegates will have the opportunity to tour the facility.

The event is being sponsored by Frontier Medical Group, MITIE, Sharpsmart and Bywaters. Additional sponsors include GV Health, SRCL, Econix and Independent Safety Services Ltd.

Registration forms and booking details, including early bird discounts are available at the link below. When you book, can you let us know: (1) if you would like to do the site tour in the afternoon, (2) if you require a car parking space and (3) if you have any disability requirements?

Online registration form for the seminar

2. The NHS and the Circular economy

Circular economy principles help NHS meet cost and environmental targets. Three sustainability and waste experts on what the healthcare system can gain from circular economy principles.

Read more here: NHS and the circular economy

3. Electricity Demand Reduction Pilot

The Department of Energy and Climate Change is making £20 million available to support projects that deliver lasting reductions in electricity demand through the Electricity Demand Reduction (EDR) Pilot.
The aim of the Pilot is to test whether EDR could participate in Great Britain’s capacity market. Under the Pilot, businesses and organisations which install measures that deliver verifiable reductions in electricity demand will be able to bid for a financial incentive.A total of £20 million will be made available to support the EDR Pilot over the two years it will run. The first EDR Pilot auction is for a total of £10 million and is being held in January 2015…..
4. HMRC consultation on Landfill Tax
The Government announced in Budget 2014 that it will introduce a ‘loss on ignition’ test by April 2015. The lower rate of landfill tax will apply where fines meet an LOI threshold of 10% or less. This consultation sets out a proposal for how the testing regime will operate, including processes for the testing of samples and record-keeping requirements. The consultation will be of particular interest to operators of landfill sites and mechanical treatment plants and other waste industry interests including representative bodies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
5. Collection frequency and health risks
Zero Waste Scotland has published the findings of a study looking at the potential risk to human health linked to reduced frequency collections of non-recyclable waste. In 2012/13 the Scottish Waste Management Officers Network approached Zero Waste Scotland to request support to appraise options for extended frequency non-recyclable waste collections from householders.
6. Energy efficiency and Newham University Hospital

E.ON have begun working with Newham University Hospital in East London to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. The project is amongst the very first of the London Development Agency’s (LDA) RE:FIT programme which aims to reduce the capital’s carbon emissions by updating public buildings with the most effective energy saving measures.

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Waste Stories 12/8/2014

 

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 1. Seminar on September 25 (Bywaters: recycling made easy Bywaters)

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group will be hosting a seminar focusing on treatment technologies and recovering value from healthcare waste, on Thursday September 25.

It will be held at the Bywaters’ recycling facility, in East London. The morning session will be dedicated to presentations from a range of speakers. While in the afternoon, delegates will have the opportunity to tour the facility.

The event is being sponsored by Frontier Medical Group, MITIE, Sharpsmart and Bywaters. Additional sponsors include GV Health, SRCL, Econix and Independent Safety Services Ltd.

Registration forms and booking details, including early bird discounts are available at the link below. When you book, can you let us know: (1) if you would like to do the site tour in the afternoon, (2) if you require a car parking space and (3) if you have any disability requirements?

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/understanding-treatment-technologies-and-recovery-of-value-a-seminar-tickets-11313828967

2.Fist bumps and infection control

Bumping fists has a negative bro-stigma, but it’s better than shaking hands—in that it transmits significantly fewer bacteria. At a time of global concern that our antibiotics are becoming obsolete, new research shows how fist bumping could save lives…

Read the full story here: fist bumping and infection control

3. Online planning tool from Resource Efficient Scotland

Resource Efficient Scotland recently launched an online planning tool to help businesses and the public sector to improve the efficiencies of their processes and save monies.

See the Resource Efficient Scotland online tool

4. CIWM Midlands EU Leonardo programme

The Midlands region of the CIWM has places available for its EU Leonardo Programme on health and safety. Interviews will take place in September.

Read more about the CIWM Midlands EU Leonardo Programme

5. Separate collections to come into force from 1 January 2015

From 1 January 2015, waste collection authorities must collect waste paper, metal, plastic and glass separately, unless they can demonstrate that it is not necessary to ensure the appropriate level of quality, or/and it is not technically, environmentally and economically practicable (TEEP)….

Read the full story here: TEEP guidance

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Waste Stories: 4/08/2014

 

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1. Seminar on September 25 (ISSL: healthcare consulting and training services ISSL)

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group will be hosting a seminar focusing on treatment technologies and recovering value from healthcare waste, on Thursday September 25.

It will be held at the Bywaters’ recycling facility, in East London. The morning session will be dedicated to presentations from a range of speakers. While in the afternoon, delegates will have the opportunity to tour the facility.

The event is being sponsored by Frontier Medical Group, MITIE, Sharpsmart and Bywaters. Additional sponsors include GV Health, SRCL, Econix and Independent Safety Services Ltd.

Registration forms and booking details, including early bird discounts are available at the link below. When you book, can you let us know: (1) if you would like to do the site tour in the afternoon, (2) if you require a car parking space and (3) if you have any disability requirements?

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/understanding-treatment-technologies-and-recovery-of-value-a-seminar-tickets-11313828967

2.New food buying standard to cut public sector waste

From 2017, central government will commit to buying fresh, locally sourced, seasonal food, through a new, simplified food and drink buying standard, which will aid in the reduction of waste through food reduction, according to newly appointed Secretary of State, Liz Truss…

Read story here: food buying standards

3.Institute for Public Policy Research document on resource efficiency

Britain needs to radically rethink the way it manages its resources. The countryneeds to depart from the linear approach, whereby we take resources such asfood and metals from the natural environment, turn them into products, usethem, and then dispose of what is left as ‘waste’. Our approach to resourcesshould be circular: one in which non-biological resources like metals are reusedagain and again, while biological resources such as food are reused as fullyas possible before being returned to the Earth’s ecosystem – for example, bycomposting the material rather than burning it.This briefing paper is about that transition towards a better approach toresources. In it, we identify three strategic goals that policy must support,and set out recommendations for how we can move towards achievingthose goals, which are:
•a better understanding among business and government of how the
UK’s resources are used
•a cultural and behavioural shift throughout society in favour of
reusing materials
•an end to inefficient and polluting treatment of reusable and recyclable(or ‘secondary’) materials
Read the full IPPR report here: The Wasteline
4.RWM report on UK resource efficiency and waste management
5. Tramadol to become a Schedule IV controlled substance
Effective August 18, 2014, tramadol and products containing tramadol will be classified as Schedule IV controlled substances
pursuant to a rule adopted by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (D.E.A.).
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Waste stories: 29/7/2014

 

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1. Seminar on September 25 (Econix: the safer, greener, cheaper way to dispose of your waste Econix)

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group will be hosting a seminar focusing on treatment technologies and recovering value from healthcare waste, on Thursday September 25.

It will be held at the Bywaters’ recycling facility, in East London. The morning session will be dedicated to presentations from a range of speakers. While in the afternoon, delegates will have the opportunity to tour the facility.

The event is being sponsored by Frontier Medical Group, MITIE, Sharpsmart and Bywaters. Additional sponsors include GV Health, SRCL, Econix and Independent Safety Services Ltd.

Registration forms and booking details, including early bird discounts are available at the link below. When you book, can you let us know: (1) if you would like to do the site tour in the afternoon, (2) if you require a car parking space and (3) if you have any disability requirements?

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/understanding-treatment-technologies-and-recovery-of-value-a-seminar-tickets-11313828967

2. Health Facilities Management 2011 hospital energy management survey

Two years removed from the Great Recession, hospitals and health systems are putting the oomph back into energy-efficiency efforts. The hold-downs that squeezed facilities budgets are easing and organizations are devoting more attention and resources to energy-conservation initiatives…

Read the report here: 2011 energy management survey

3. Sustainability in healthcare, in Victoria, Australia

A useful website of information on waste and energy management within the healthcare sector in Australia.

See information here: waste management sustainability in Victoria, Australia

4. UK energy investment report

The report shows the significant progress made against the energy investment challenge inherited in 2010 where energy projects accounted for nearly 60% of the UK National Infrastructure Plan (£218bn out of the £377bn). Since 2010, investment worth more than £45 billion has been secured in electricity infrastructure alone – the majority of this investment has been in renewable technologies. The Department’s analysis had previously identified a need for up to £110bn of electricity infrastructure investment between 2013 and 2020 and we are delighted to see nearly £14bn invested against the £110bn target in 2013 with a consequent reduction in the future estimated spend requirement – which now stands at up to £100bn through to 2020

Read the report here: DECC’s Energy Report

 

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Waste Stories 22/7/2014

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1. Seminar on September 25 (GV Health: infection control and waste management supplies GV Health)

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group will be hosting a seminar focusing on treatment technologies and recovering value from healthcare waste, on Thursday September 25.

It will be held at the Bywaters’ recycling facility, in East London. The morning session will be dedicated to presentations from a range of speakers. While in the afternoon, delegates will have the opportunity to tour the facility.

The event is being sponsored by Frontier Medical Group, MITIE, Sharpsmart and Bywaters. Additional sponsors include GV Health, SRCL, Econix and Independent Safety Services Ltd.

Registration forms and booking details, including early bird discounts are available at the link below. When you book, can you let us know: (1) if you would like to do the site tour in the afternoon, (2) if you require a car parking space and (3) if you have any disability requirements?

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/understanding-treatment-technologies-and-recovery-of-value-a-seminar-tickets-11313828967

2. GIB forecasts waste infrastructure capacity gap by 2020

The UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) has published a market setting out the investment opportunity in the UK waste market, stressing more waste infrastructure will be needed in the UK by 2020 or risk a capacity gap. Produced in partnership with Tolvik Consulting, GIB forecasts a gap of up to 7.7m tonnes between the amount of waste produced post-recycling and the infrastructure available to process it – an investment opportunity of c. £5bn to 2020….

Read the full story here: UK waste infrastructure forecasts

3. HCWH release list of global suppliers

Safe and sustainable healthcare waste management is vital part of protecting human health and the environment, and there are numerous technologies for different situations, from small healthcare facilities to large centralised treatment plants. To aid in the procurement of appropriate technologies, Health Care Without Harm first published an inventory of non-incineration healthcare waste treatment technologies in 2007. The new version has been fully updated and provides listings of suppliers from one hundred and six countries, from Albania to Zimbabwe….

See the list here: HCWH list of waste management technology suppliers

4. Philip Dilley appointed new EA chair

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has approved the appointment of Philip Dilley as the new Chair of the Environment Agency. Dilley, former Chair of the Arup Group, will take up the £100,000-a-year post in September, when the term in office ends of Lord Smith of Finsbury, the former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Read story here: Philip Diley, new EA chair

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Waste Stories 15/7/2014

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1. Seminar on September 25 (Sharpsmart: making healthcare safer http://http://sharpsmart.co.uk/ )

The Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group will be hosting a seminar focusing on treatment technologies and recovering value from healthcare waste, on Thursday September 25.

It will be held at the Bywaters’ recycling facility, in East London. The morning session will be dedicated to presentations from a range of speakers. While in the afternoon, delegates will have the opportunity to tour the facility.

The event is being sponsored by Frontier Medical Group, MITIE, Sharpsmart and Bywaters. Additional sponsors include GV Health, SRCL, Econix and Independent Safety Services Ltd.

Registration forms and booking details, including early bird discounts are available at the link below. When you book, can you let us know: (1) if you would like to do the site tour in the afternoon, (2) if you require a car parking space and (3) if you have any disability requirements?

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/understanding-treatment-technologies-and-recovery-of-value-a-seminar-tickets-11313828967

2. SRCL opens new alternative treatment plant

SRCL has opened its eighth clinical waste Alternative Treatment (AT) site at Knowsley, near Liverpool. The plant is designed to recover 100 percent of the treated clinical waste as refuse derived fuel (RDF), which will be used in the cement industry.

Specifically commissioned to service customers locally in the North West of England, and following an investment of £2m by SRCL, the new AT plant has the capacity to process up to 48 tonnes of clinical waste per day and adds to SRCL’s seven other AT sites across the UK and Ireland in Cumbernauld, Newcastle, Four Ashes, Bridgend, Larkfield, Belfast and Dublin.

Read more here: SRCL opens new AT plant

3.Zero waste Scotland report on the potential health impacts of the frequency of non-recyclable waste collections

Research led by Zero Waste Scotland has found that there is no health risk involved in collecting waste less frequently.  The reportstudied the potential exposure of both householders and waste collectors to health risks where residual waste is collected at ‘extended frequencies’ of less than fortnightly. Laboratory research found that health risks were reduced if residual waste is bagged and biodegradable waste is collected separately. Recommendations in the report therefore include encouraging householders and businesses to separate biodegradable and residual waste as well as to place in bags rather than loose in the bin.

Read the full report here: Zero Waste Scotland report on health impacts of waste

4. NHS facing pre-election crisis says Nuffield Trust

The NHS is “increasingly poorly placed to manage the impact of austerity” and faces a pre-election funding crisis, a respected healthcare think-tank has warned. In a detailed analysis of health service finances, the Nuffield Trust suggests the health service has relied heavily on one-off or temporary savings but is reaching the limit of its capacity to withstand further cuts.

Andy McKeon, senior policy fellow at the Nuffield Trust, said demand for NHS services showed no sign of abating. With hospital finances increasingly weak, growing pressures on staffing, and the goal of moving care out of hospitals and into the community proving elusive, “the NHS is heading for a funding crisis this year or next”. The immediate choice, he said, was “rapidly becoming one of financial deficits or scrimping on the quality of care”.

Read the full story here: Nuffield Trust report on NHS funding crisis

5. Defra announces four-year low in waste costs

The Defra Annual Report on Accounts 2013-2014 shows that the costs of councils’ waste collection have reached their lowest levels in real terms since 2008. Local authorities have spent 1.3% and 3.4% less per household for waste management activities compared to 2011-2012 and 2008-09 respectively, having spent £140.40 per household for waste management activities in 2013-14 compared to £145.38 in 2008-09. Defra said “this significant reduction suggests some efficiency savings have been achieved, with reductions in the amount of waste sent to landfill being a key driver”.

Read the full report here: Defra accounts for 2013/4

6. Nigerian Healthcare Waste Management Plan

The government in Nigeria has recently issued a new healthcare waste management plan. Details of the document can be found at the link below.

Nigerian national healthcare waste plan