Sust-N Ltd., Barts Health and Skanska Highly Commended at National Recycling Awards 2014 – See Article.
http://www.nationalrecyclingawards.com/2014-winners
Healthcare Recycler of the Year 2014
Introduction
Skanska Facilities Services manage the waste disposal service for Barts Health NHS Trust). Skanska is a large global Construction company with Civils and Managed Service sectors whose UK business became the Sunday Times Best Green Company in 2011. Barts Health is the Largest NHS Trust in the UK whose vision is to be the leading Sustainable Healthcare Trust by 2020, and a major producer of waste. Sust-N Ltd are industry leading Environmental Behavioural Change specialists. The Trust, Skanska and Sust-N Ltd are aligned in their Sustainability goals.
Initiative Summary
In 2011 the Trust engaged with Skanska and Sust-N Ltd to deliver a unique, exemplar waste management programme. The Trust and Skanska in partnership were incentivised to deliver a waste management programme designed to improve environmental compliance, improve waste segregation and deliver cost and carbon savings from waste. We also wanted to push the boundaries of innovation and explore new technologies to help us reduce our environmental impacts. In October 2013 this was extended to include the newly formed Trust sites under Barts Health NHS (Phase 2).
In the first 2 years of the programme we have carried out over 100,000 individual bin audits, delivered training to 5000 staff, diverted 4000 tonnes of waste from Landfill, bailed and commoditised 200 tonnes of cardboard for recycling, decreased our clinical waste by 20%, Improved recycling rates by 384% to achieve 2120 tonnes of recyclable waste a year, saved over 5,000 tonnes of carbon from reduced road miles for waste transportation and delivered financial savings of over £700K.
Clear evidence of how the approach has made a difference to performance
When setting the Targets we agreed to set stretch targets that motivated all Stakeholders. The Trust needed to improve their compliance and reduce costs, by reducing Skanska’s costs our margin improves and the sub contractors gain efficiencies from collecting maximised loads and reduced transportation. It was vital we motivated and aligned all Stakeholders from the start of the project.
Explanation of the methods used to drive up recycling, reuse and waste
To implement our vision we needed a Behavioural Change programme to reach the 10000 trust staff and we understand that changing behaviours was a key element to our success. We invested in Sust-N Ltd specialist waste behavioural change team to work with Trust staff to make improvements. The team are dedicated to auditing and training our staff to;
- improve segregation,
- Improve recycling rates and
- Improve segregation compliance
The Sust-N Ltd Behavioural change programme is required consistently across the 5 year contract and by using the latest technologies and strong people skills to educate, motivate and coach staff through the change process.
We believe that we have developed a unique way of working and a true partnership..
Our initiatives and achievements from Jan – Dec 2013 (v 2011 Benchmark Figures) are as follows;
Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) 1877.34 tonnes 100% of the general domestic waste stream is now diverted from landfill and sent to RDF.
Landfill Waste Zero Waste to Landfill from day 1 of the contract for domestic and now also includes treated clinical waste.
Paper 146.46 tonnes of Confidential Paper Shredded and recycled 100%
Cardboard Baling 91.3 tonnes of Cardboard Baled into Mill size Bales to generate a Revenue Stream. 30% improvement in RDF Compaction reducing Waste Vehicle Movement by 96 per year or kms by 1920 kms / Annum
Food Waste 32tonnes of Food Waste (from March 2013) removed from the and nowsent to Anaerobic Digestion 100% of this waste stream.
Prevention: Food waste Initiative reduced Food Waste on input side by 10%
Plastic 4 tonnes Re-use Lab sample boxes and sample holders from Pathology & Pharmacy 100% sent back to the supplier in a closed loop recycling scheme.
Clinical Waste 231.76 tonnes of RDF Removed from Clinical Waste (Better CW segregation) reducing waste kms by 10,000 kms / annum or 115 Truck movements.
Batteries Recycled through BatteryBack
Printer / Toner Cartridges Recycled through Office Green / MacMillan Cancer Support
Clinical Waste to RDF 388.97 tonnes PA 100% of the non Incineration waste stream is now treated and then the flock is sent for RDF.
Clinical Waste to Energy 844.41 tonnes PA 100% of the Incineration waste stream is burnt at incinerators that create energy or steam.
Creating a true and equal partnership
Partnership is the fundamental success driver in our project. Having aligned our vision and targets and motivated all stakeholders we are all driven to achieve the results. All relationships are dependant on each other.
Evidence of commitment from senior staff to ground level operatives
The initiatives that we have introduced require all levels of staff to engage with the programme. Sir Stephen O’Brian, the Chairman of Barts Health NHS Trust has been actively involved and fully supported the waste initiatives, as the photo illustrate he was handing out the awards for staff who had won competitions in most improved compliance, best recycling and most improved area.
Plans for further development and long-term aspirations
Skanska and the Trusts long term aspirations are to work up the waste hierarchy. Skanska’s Journey to Deep Green vision is ‘Zero Waste’. To do this we have to be constantly innovating. We are currently investigating the following initiatives;
- Solar powered compacting bins
- Re vending machines that take your empty recyclates and give you promotional/ charity vouchers
- Food to water recycling
- On site Clinical waste treatment
- On site waste to energy
- Re useable sharps bins
- Site Swap Shop
- Renal ward PET Bottle replacement
- Commoditising plastics, tins and can waste
Organisation of the team involved, resources available including budget and outcomes
The partnership worked on a business case approach to initiatives. The majority of initiatives improve efficiencies, improve compliance and reduce costs. The simple budget constraints of the project is to cut the cost of waste management.