Equipment for recycling surgical waste – including fluids and metals – was introduced at the James Paget in 2021 as part of continuing environmental work at the hospital.
The disposal of fluid waste during surgery is not something that many might want to give thought to, but for our surgical team it is something they have to deal with every day.
During surgery someone needs to keep a close eye on fluids in and fluids out of patients and, as fluids are suctioned away during surgery, this normally means numerous containers are filled with body fluids and these containers frequently need changing. This means fluids often need to be cleaned from the floor after procedures, resulting in staff having an extensive clean-up job before the operating theatre can be prepared and used again, and in the use of large quantities of absorbent cleaning materials.
The introduction of a Stryker Neptune waste management systems is helping collect, transport and dispose of surgical waste fluid in a closed environment, within a single machine, reducing the clean-up waste, creating a safer environment for our staff and meaning operating theatres can be used again more quickly, resulting in more patient capacity.
In carbon impact terms it is estimated that the system saves 36,000 litres of waste each year – equivalent to stopping over 31 tonnes of carbon being released.
Green-coloured metal recycling bins for specialist sharps waste in theatres have also been introduced. The bins - from Sharpsmart, a clinical, sharps and hazardous waste disposal company – capture metal instruments that will go through a sterilisation process prior to the metal being sent for recovery.
In addition to a range of measures in place including cardboard recycling, plastic and paper recycling bins in offices and medical equipment sent for onward sale or reuse, we aim to recycle more than 80% of the clinical waste produced from the hospital each year.
We often have to stop using some electrical equipment, such as fridges, if they start to show signs of wear or tear, so we also have a partnership with organisations who can refurbish these and pass on to people who need them, including refuges and housing projects.
