Grundon Waste Management launch new clinical waste containers to help improve sustainability
Grundon Waste Management is rolling out a new range of carbon-cutting clinical waste containers, as it works to help customers improve their sustainability credentials.
From April, it is swapping single-use clinical waste bins made from virgin plastic with ones made from responsibly-sourced post-consumer recycled plastic – a move that could potentially help customers cut their equivalent carbon footprint by up to 50% a year.
Shauna Costley, Grundon’s Clinical Compliance & Sustainability Manager, says: “In 2021, we supplied over 35,000 clinical waste bins to our healthcare customers and, because these have to be sent for High Temperature Energy Recovery Facility, that’s a lot of virgin plastic going to waste.
“Finding a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative which meets all the necessary clinical waste regulations and does not compromise integrity in any way, has been at the top of our agenda for some time. The fact we can now supply fully-compliant containers made from mixed recycled plastic is a big step forward and one we believe will appeal to customers as they strive to reach their own environmental targets.”
Manufactured by Daniels Healthcare using state-of-the-art technology, the award-winning WIVATM Infinity range is the world’s first UN-approved clinical waste container made from Post-Consumer Recycled Resin (PCR).
Steven Boyle, National Sales Manager, Daniels Healthcare, said: “As the leading provider of sharps and clinical waste containers to the UK waste and healthcare sectors, we are pleased to be able to offer our customers true sustainability at scale by combining the superior protection of specific healthcare risk waste with the environmental benefits of using recycled plastic.”
Typical Grundon healthcare customers include NHS Trusts, private hospitals and clinics, research and development laboratories, universities, GP surgeries, veterinary clinics and dental surgeries.
Initial customer trials have already been taking place and Shauna says the feedback has been very positive.
The University of Surrey is one such customer and Nicola Walker, Health and Safety Officer (Hazardous Materials), said: “When Grundon first approached us with the concept of clinical waste bins being made from post-consumer plastic we were excited from the start – sustainability is very high on the agenda at the University of Surrey and to be able to provide our students and research staff with a cost-effective sustainable alternative that the WIVA bins offer is fantastic.”
There are hopes that the wider introduction of the new bins will mirror results from The Netherlands and Belgium, where evidence suggested customers who switched to the WIVA™ Infinity range, could reduce their equivalent CO2 footprint by 50%.
Grundon will supply the containers in 30 litre (maximum filling weight 12kg) and 60 litre (maximum filling weight 15kg) sizes, with different coloured* lid options to facilitate correct waste disposal, in line with HTM07-01 Guidance¹.
The bins, which are stackable for easy storage, are certified to UN3291² and performance tested for leak resistance, stability and impact resistance tests based on ISO23907 and NFX 30-511 standards.
Each comes with a label with clear sections for customers to record dates, locations, users and appropriate EWC code ready for collection.
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Twitter: @GrundonRecycle
LinkedIn: @Grundon Waste Management Ltd
