• Main Website
  • Washroom Services
  • Healthcare Waste
  • Floor Mats
  • Vending Services
  • Initial Shop
Initial Washroom Hygiene and Initial Medical UK – Blog
  • Main Website
  • Washroom Services
  • Healthcare Waste
  • Floor Mats
  • Vending Services
  • Initial Shop
Home  /  Healthcare Waste  /  NHS England launch clinical waste strategy – what it means for You
NHS England launches Clinical Waste Strategy
18 April 2023

NHS England launch clinical waste strategy – what it means for You

Written by Patrick Over
Healthcare Waste clinical waste, infectious waste, sustainability, waste segregation Leave a Comment

NHS England has announced a new strategy to improve the sustainability of service providers across the nation. As part of a collection of documents that include the newly revised HTM 07-01, this new campaign will address clinical waste generation and segregation.

The challenge

It is estimated that NHS service providers produce 156,000 tonnes of clinical waste every year, making them one of the biggest clinical waste producers in the UK. All this waste is sent for high temperature incineration or alternative treatment. Both of these options require carbon and energy-intensive processes. 

While many businesses have prioritised waste reduction and increased sustainability over the past decade, healthcare providers face many challenges in this area. Safety standards and/or time and cost pressures mandate the utilisation of single-use items in many situations. Energy consumption is also difficult to lower, given the equipment and utilities that must be used regularly.

However, waste management is one aspect that all clinical service providers can have an impact upon.

NHS England staff smiling arms folded
One of the NHS clinical waste strategy focuses is on investing in knowledge and skills

A new waste management strategy for the NHS

NHS England has launched an NHS clinical waste strategy designed to bring about change. It outlines best practice guidelines to help individual service providers to contribute to a more sustainable NHS. 

The document focuses on:

Data – collecting and using comprehensive data from across all NHS organisations to drive decision-making around clinical waste management.

Workforce – investing in knowledge and skills to ensure the workforce is able to optimise waste management processes.

Compliance – ensuring all staff understand and comply with waste management requirements.

Commercial – standardising contract arrangements in order to build a commercial market that encourages sustainable practices.

Infrastructure – increasing capacity and regional resilience in clinical waste infrastructure to support sustainable processes.

Sustainability – reducing harmful emissions, improving air quality and achieving net zero target.

At the core of both the NHS England launch and the changes to HTM 07-01, is an emphasis on improving waste segregation at source. This will help to reduce the amount of clinical waste generated that requires energy-intense treatment. The goal is to reduce waste sent for high-temperature incineration down to 20%, with only 4% intended for hazardous/clinical incineration. The strategy also aims to reduce waste needing alternative treatment to 20%. The remaining 60% – classified as offensive waste – can then be managed in more sustainable ways and converted into energy.

NHS England's clinical waste strategy launch affects dental practices with waste collections
Your business could be more sustainable by using waste containers made of recycled materials

NHS England Launch – What this means for you

Essentially, it is important for individual service providers to reassess their waste generation and management processes. Team training is essential to ensure that all staff understand exactly which waste items should be allocated to which waste stream, minimising the items that end up in clinical waste and requiring high-energy treatment. Your business sustainability may also be improved with the introduction or expansion of waste containers or bins fabricated from recycled materials.  For more information on the waste products, collection and disposal services available from Initial Medical that could support your sustainability aims, then visit our website.  


 Previous Article The impact that poor indoor air quality could have on your washroom visitors
Next Article   A spotlight on Malaria

Related Posts

  • New Waste Regulations for Dental Practices Medical

    New waste Simpler Recycling regulations now in force

    May 12, 2025
  • rat in drain

    How to stop pests in healthcare practices

    May 1, 2025
  • clinical waste bag

    Initial Medical Myth Busters – Can laboratory waste be sustainable?

    April 4, 2025
Patrick Over

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

  • Washroom Hygiene: Ensure spotless and hygienic washrooms with our tailored solutions, including sanitary disposal, hand hygiene, and air care.
  • Medical Waste Disposal: Our expert medical waste services help healthcare facilities maintain compliance and safety with reliable and responsible disposal solutions.
blue letter
Contact the team at Initial Washroom Hygiene and Initial Medical today to discuss your business requirements.

Search

Contact Us

WASHROOM HYGIENE
0808 302 8299

HEALTHCARE WASTE
0808 301 1658

Categories

  • Air Care
  • Clinical Waste
  • Consumables
  • Cubicle hygiene
  • Floor Mats
  • Hand Hygiene
  • Healthcare Waste
  • Period Dignity
  • Sharps Disposal
  • Uncategorized
  • Vending Services
  • Washroom Services
  • Water Management

© 2025 Rentokil Initial plc and subject to the conditions in the legal statement.

  • Sanitary Waste
  • Floor Mats
  • Hand Dryers
  • Aircare
  • Hand Hygiene & Care
  • Clinical Waste
  • Sharps Disposal
  • Dental Waste
  • Manage cookies
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • RI Supplier Code
  • Gender Pay Report
  • Modern Slavery Statement
myInitial
eBilling
TRUSTPILOT