A scheme designed to reduce the use of single use plastic has been rolled out to the Institute of Neurological Sciences (INS) at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been working with supplier Redeem Exchange, to collect, wash and refill plastic hand sanitiser bottles across a number of facilities. The project works to help reduce single-use plastic waste, reducing waste sent to landfill and also save money, with bottles being returned, washed, refilled and reused up to 50 times each.
INS Operational Manager, Sam Atkinson said: “Since COP26, INS & Spinal Injuries teams have been exploring new ways to improve our record on sustainability. Redeem Exchange is the first pilot we have launched that aims to reduce plastic waste, in this instance, of empty hand sanitiser bottles. The first collection was successful with collection boxes filled to the brim of empty hand sanitizer bottles, all ready to be recycled up to 50 times.”
The re-use project has been deployed at Royal Alexandra Hospital, Inverclyde Royal Hospital and the Greenock Health and Care Centre. The team at Redeem Exchange also employ a Skills Exchange employability programme, giving individual’s valuable skills and knowledge to reach their full potential, helping to reduce poverty and close skills gaps in areas that need it the most.
Kirsten Allan, Sustainability Officer at NHSGGC said: “It was great to get out on site and visit the INS for their first Redeem Exchange collection this week, where we must have easily picked up around 250 sanitiser bottles over the course of only one month. Our thanks go to all the staff involved in spreading the message, helping us reduce our carbon footprint and working towards improve our waste management and environmental performance.”