Learning is the key to successful waste management
The ‘reduce, recycle, reuse’ statement encourages everyone to decrease the impact of waste on the environment. However, despite good intentions, we do not always throw away our rubbish in the right way.
We are increasingly aware of the need to correctly dispose of household waste and to recycle. Yet, many still do not dispose of their rubbish correctly. In fact, the annual rate of recycling of household waste in 2015 decreased compared to 2014, and it was the first time that it had been lower than 44 per cent since 2011.[1] An annual survey of UK households found that two-thirds were uncertain about how to correctly dispose of items, only 12% correctly recycled and 21% did not bother.[2]
What are the barriers?
A number of barriers exist in terms of household or domestic waste, including a lack of information about what happens to the waste[3] and insufficient motivation.[4] In addition, for non-food items, around four in five households are unsure about which container to put at least one type of material in. Certainty is important because, as confidence about what can and cannot be recycled increases, so does the recycling level. Furthermore, people who are confident about what can and cannot be recycled are more likely to have received information about it,[5] so having information about correct waste disposal appears to be key to improving waste management.
Dental practices and waste management
It is particularly necessary for dental practices to manage their waste in the right way. The correct segregation of waste in the dental practice is vital as it ensures that all waste is stored, transported and disposed of in the correct way. Having a good understanding about waste management reduces the risk of disease transmission and environmental damage, and it is necessary to comply with legislation. For effective waste management, it is essential to know the correct type of waste container and the colour-coding system. For example, the colour-coding system uses yellow for clinical/highly infectious waste, such as wipes, gloves, and aprons, while the colour white is employed for toxic materials such as dental amalgam and mercury, which can be found in old fillings. In addition, to comply with legislation, an amalgam separator must be fitted to the surgery’s waste-water stream. Therefore, to feel confident about waste management, continued learning is important.
Dental practices can learn more about the correct disposal of waste through Initial Medical’s customer myLearning portal. It can be used for staff education in a cost efficient and flexible manner. The modules include interactive videos, mini quizzes and useful facts. The waste management module provides in-depth training about the correct procedures for managing clinical waste and how to comply with legislation.
[1] Department for the Environment Food & Rural Affairs. Digest of Waste and Resource Statistics 2017 edition. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/607416/Digest_of_Waste_and_Resource_Statistics__2017_rev.pdf [Accessed November 2017].
[2] Department for the Environment Food & Rural Affairs. Digest of Waste and Resource Statistics 2017 edition. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/607416/Digest_of_Waste_and_Resource_Statistics__2017_rev.pdf [Accessed November 2017].
[3] Department for the Environment Food & Rural Affairs. Digest of Waste and Resource Statistics 2017 edition. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/607416/Digest_of_Waste_and_Resource_Statistics__2017_rev.pdf [Accessed November 2017].
[4] Department for the Environment Food & Rural Affairs. Digest of Waste and Resource Statistics 2017 edition. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/607416/Digest_of_Waste_and_Resource_Statistics__2017_rev.pdf [Accessed November 2017].
[5] WRAP. 3Rs recycling knowledge, attitudes and reported behavior survey 2015. http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/3Rs%20Recycling%20Highlights%202015%20FINAL%20FOR%20PUBLICATION.pdf [Accessed November 2017].
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