Clinical waste strategy targets cuts in costs and emissions

The 10-year strategy to reduce clinical waste, where appropriate, and dispose of it more appropriately, is aimed at secondary and primary care providers and would represent a step change in waste management practices. The NHS currently produces around 156,000 tonnes of clinical waste a year from secondary care, which is either sent to high temperature incineration or for alternative treatment. This is the equivalent to over 400 loaded jumbo jets of waste.

‘As one of the largest producers of waste in the country, it is vital that the NHS disposes it in a safe, efficient and sustainable manner, and we are only creating waste when absolutely necessary,’ said Simon Corben, director of estates and head of profession at NHS England. The strategy will also help the NHS meet its ‘net zero’ target of zero carbon emissions by 2040.

The strategy calls for:

• Better use of data with regular reporting of all clinical waste generated by NHS providers with 95% accuracy by 2024
• Investment in a skilled workforce with all trusts having a dedicated waste manager by 2023 and other NHS providers having accountable officers for waste management
• Clinical waste segregation targets to be met by 2026. This would see waste segregated into that intended for high temperature incineration, alternative treatment and offensive waste with an increase in that classified as offensive waste, which is cheaper to deal with
• A reduction in the cost of clinical waste management by 15% by 2030, taking into account inflation an increased treatment cost. This will be achieved by standardised contracting arrangements and a commercial model which encourages better value
• Investment in infrastructure to meet future demand with all NHS providers introducing arrangements for managing offensive waste by 2023
• Improved use of resources and reduced carbon impact with a 50% reduction in the carbon emissions from waste management by 2026 and 80% by 2028-32.

The amount of clinical waste is expected to grow by 3% a year for the foreseeable future – although the strategy points out Covid led to significant extra waste generation and it is unclear how this will impact on future volumes.

Rezina Hakim senior policy adviser at the NHS Confederation, welcomed the plan. ‘However, the devil will be in the detail. Segregating of waste through improved waste management responsibilities and compliance will be the first key step in helping to cement the strategy as well as monitoring compliance and adherence through data and reporting,’ she said. ‘Although the strategy is a positive step, healthcare leaders will be very aware of the backdrop of gaping vacancies in the NHS, coupled with the recent direction to cut running costs within systems, which makes for an untimely misalignment on ambition.

‘NHS leaders are eager to meet the green net zero ambitions, but there must be investment in the infrastructure and a commitment to filling the wide workforce gaps, otherwise these goals simply cannot be met.’