Cost savings for healthcare estates delivered through improved waste management

GPT Waste began talks with a global hospital group with a network of over 30 hospital facilities in the UK.

As part of the process, GPT Waste undertook site visits to audit the existing waste across each of the facilities.

The results of the audit highlighted that several thousand tonnes of waste was being produced per year due to existing clinical waste disposal methods that were in place.

The cost to the organisation was nearly £1.3m per annum. Of this waste, 64% was being disposed to Landfill, which meant that the existing spend on waste disposal was extremely high.

The audit of the facilities highlighted inefficient handling of waste, potential to segregate more effectively and a gap in the knowledge of staff.

As a result of their findings, GPT Waste proposed a number of improvements to the existing waste management systems and developed a tailored waste management strategy which was implemented, tracked and monitored from inception.

With sustainability objectives in mind, the Directors of the hospital group recognised the opportunity that GPT Waste presented and proceeded to work with them to implement the integrated waste management strategy.

By correctly and accurately segregating waste, the private healthcare group made savings in excess of £225,000 in the first 15 months whilst also increasing their overall recycling rate to over 97%.

The client monitored and reported upon the waste streams and costs savings made from the outset. ‘HPD’ is the widely accepted process for assigning expenditure and measuring the cost against patient care, these costs can be direct or indirect, but all go towards the cost of a patient stay.

The waste cost per HPD dropped from £4.18 to £3.02 GPT Waste reduced the overheads for the group in excess of £225,000 in fifteen months, whilst also increasing their overall recycling rate to over 97%.

Financial savings of over 20% can be achieved through more considered approach to the procurement of waste services and the management of the service.

Savings of 15 to 25% can be achieved through a more considered approach to the procurement of waste services.

Clearly, understanding how to get the best procurement deal is important, but so is developing a robust waste management strategy through understanding the options available to process waste.

If your healthcare estate is looking to reduce cost, increase operational efficiency and improve their environmental credentials, then a revised approach to waste management should be considered. The key difference is between ‘waste disposal’ and ‘waste management’.

Waste disposal is costly, waste management is less costly but more effective, because it identifies how to reduce waste arising.

GPT Waste provides clinical healthcare and pharmaceutical waste management services, specialising in protecting people and reducing risk. They work with local and national companies across the public and private sector to improve employee and customer safety, ensure legislative compliance and minimise the environmental impact of waste disposal.

Their services include:

• Resource management guidance
• Hazardous waste management programmes
• Pharmaceutical waste disposal

With an extensive UK network of service providers and their disposal facilities, GPT Waste provide a range of services to NHS trusts, GPs, dentists, pharmaceutical manufacturers, private sector businesses, research companies and many more.

To speak to someone about your pharmaceutical and clinical waste disposal requirements, call 0844

854 5000 or email mailto:info@gptwaste.com

Find out more, download the whitepaper here.

To discuss your project requirements with GPT Waste, call 0844 854 5000 or email them here.

www.gptwaste.com

GPT Waste offers a basic Waste Review Service free of charge.  Find out how they can help your business deal more effectively with your waste: Call 0844 854 5000 or email here.