NHS ethics: do the bins care?

The authors (who are academics in Waste Management) acknowledge that it is advantageous to have a research proposal subjected to rigorous checking (by the ethical approval process), and that the support of the REC strengthens the credibility and validity of evidence-based research. However, in criticising the 'protracted' process they refer to the old application form and to COREC patient information sheets

The development of strategic and tactical tools, using systems analysis, for waste management in large complex organisations: a case study in UK healthcare waste

Healthcare waste management within the United Kingdom (UK) has been identified as an area requiring extensive adoption of Best Practice (DETR, 2000). The National Health Service (NHS) generated 384,698 tonnes of waste in 2001. In order to manage this waste effectively, strategic and tactical tools within the NHS are required, which is a large complex organisation. Examples of such tools which could be used to deliver Best Practice within a hospital environment are the Strategic Waste Achievement Programme (SWAP) methodology and structured systems analysis design method (SSADM). SWAP is a strategic tool for senior managers and policy makers that can be used to develop sustainable waste management programmes and strategies for the whole organisation. An outline of SWAP is included in this paper. SSADM is the standard methodology used by the UK government for the development of their information systems. Some functional aspects of SSADM have been adapted for the documentation of waste generation and waste streams within an acute general hospital. A diagrammatic representation of the systems in place is the output from the waste flow diagrams (WFDs). These are relevant to the tactical levels within the organisation as the diagrams can be ‘walked through’ with the hospital managers and staff. The adoption of the methodology led to easily identified savings, amounting to over £28,000 for no capital outlay

Developing a methodology for the systematic analysis of radioactive healthcare waste generation in an acute hospital in the UK

This paper demonstrates the development of a methodology for systematically analysing radioactive waste generation and disposal in an acute general hospital setting in the UK. Low level radioactive waste occurs in research centres and hospitals as the result of the use of radiopharmaceuticals for a range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. There is specific legislation regarding the disposal of radioactive waste which overrides any attempt to minimise the quantity of waste going to final disposal. This means that any efforts to minimise the cost of radioactive waste disposal must be taken prior to the final disposal. This research systematically investigated the generation and movement of radioactive sources and wastes in from the perspective of the Medical Physics and Nuclear Medicine Departments. Waste flow diagrams have been used to document the flows of radioactive sources and waste streams. A range of quantitative and qualitative methods have been utilised in order to represent the interactions between systems in place both within and outside the site being analysed. This research has shown that by systematically analysing the waste generation and flow of waste around the hospital, opportunities for implementing best practice can be identifie

Life cycle assessment for reuse/recycling of donated waste textiles compared to use of virgin material: an UK energy saving perspective

In the UK, between 4 and 5% of the municipal solid waste stream is composed of clothes/textiles. Approximately 25% of this is recycled by companies such as the Salvation Army Trading Company Limited (SATCOL) who provide a collection and distribution infrastructure for ‘donated’ clothing and shoes. Textiles can be reused or undergo a processing stage and enter a recycling stream. Research was conducted in order to quantify the energy used by a reuse/recycling operation and whether this resulted in a net energy benefit. The energy footprint was quantified using a streamlined life cycle assessment (LCA), an LCA restricted in scope in order to target specific aspects of the footprint, in this case energy consumption. Taking into account extraction of resources, manufacture of materials, electricity generation, clothing collection, processing and distribution and final disposal of wastes it was demonstrated that for every kilogram of virgin cotton displaced by second hand clothing approximately 65 kWh is saved, and for every kilogram of polyester around 90 kWh is saved. Therefore, the reuse and recycling of the donated clothing results in a reduction in the environmental burden compared to purchasing new clothing made from virgin materials