A provider of waste containment solutions for the health facilities management sector has developed a new approach to the segregation and recycling of waste. The system has been designed to enable health providers to comply with the new producer pretreatment requirement of the Landfill Directive, which comes into force from the end of October 2007, as well as to maximise the efficiencies of their waste management processes.
Under the Directive, businesses of any size, including public services, will no longer be able to send nonhazardous waste to landfill without prior treatment, which means segregation of waste streams.
Currently, just 2% of health waste is recycled, the rest being disposed as clinical waste, costing £350 per tonne, or even worse, pharmaceutical waste costing up to £700 per tonne. By segregating waste streams at the front, inside and at the back of their facilities, health providers could erase this cost completely and landfill just the nonhazardous inert waste for £50 per tonne.
A key challenge for the health service sector will be to get employees to participate and exercise good discipline in waste segregation in their facilities. If they don’t, the waste contractor will have to do it, which is expected at least to double the costs. And if the waste contractor doesn’t do it, the company in question is likely to be heavily penalised financially, although penalties have yet to be decided.
In response, Taylor has launched the Taylor System, designed to help those responsible for the health services estates to meet the requirements and also turn waste management from a potential cost into a financial gain.
A key component in businesses securing ISO 14001 status, the “Taylor System” has three core elements:
- A “waste walk” advisory visit to facilities to identify risks and needs to ensure legislation compliance.
- A customised solution through a range of products designed to facilitate segregation of waste and boost recycling participation at front of operation, interior and back of business facilities.
- A total asset management contract service, designed to remove the risk and hassle of recycling and waste containment from health estates managers.
