Last month our CHS Waste Management team were awarded Business Recycling Hero at the Kirklees Recycling Hero Awards held at Huddersfield Town Hall.

Environment Manager, Grace Barrett, said: "Since 2021, CHFT has recycled over 1,500 tonnes of waste. This achievement reflects the hard work and commitment of colleagues across CHS and CHFT, whose collective efforts continue to drive improvements in sustainability across our organisation.

"We continue to support clinical teams to coordinate recycling schemes and track progress in line with our Green Plan. These achievements highlight the positive impact of how working together means we continue to make meaningful progress towards net zero and ensuring long-term sustainability at CHFT."

On top of promoting everyday recycling such as paper, cardboard, glass and food, the CHS Waste Management Team have implemented two successful reuse schemes which include reusing walking aids and furniture. 

Grace explains: "It was a long-standing issue that walking aids provided to patients were not being returned to the Trust, and on the rare occasion that they were, these often ended up being disposed of. To address this issue, the waste management team worked with clinical stakeholders such as Therapy Services to establish a re-use scheme for walking aids- encouraging patients to return these after use.

"The walking aids are now checked by a clinical member of staff on return and if deemed in suitable condition, can be used again. This scheme has been very well received and since the start of January this year, 2,503 walking aids have been returned to the Trust, which has saved 74.49 tonnes of Co2 and over £32,000 so far.

"Of the walking aids returned 91% have been re-used and the 9% deemed unsuitable for reuse have been properly recycled."

Over the last year, 270 furniture items have been reused across the Trust, generating an estimated saving of around £48,000, and saving 14 tonnes of Co2.

In addition to re-homing and re-using surplus or unwanted items in other departments instead of buying new, the Trust promotes re-upholstering of furniture items where suitable and appropriate, instead of immediate disposal.

Pictured is Waste Management Officer, Will Bennett with some of our recycled furniture, and the award itself.