Derbyshire waste company adapts bins in hospitals to help contain spread of virus

A Derbyshire waste company has adapted its clinical waste services to support hospitals and care homes, offering a rapid response service to control the spread of Covid-19.
Ward Recycling.Ward Recycling.
Ward Recycling.

Ward, which has premises in Chesterfield and Ilkeston, has provided lockable bins to help key workers to dispose of and contain contaminated waste for a period of two weeks, which is currently understood to be the longest period of time the Covid-19 can survive on surfaces.

All waste must be double-bagged in orange clinical bags and clearly dated with a marker.

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Collection cannot take place until two weeks after the last bag is added to the container.

After the two-week period is confirmed by the customer, the sealed containers are safely removed from sites and sent for incineration, providing fuel for renewable energy.

Operations director at Ward, Donald Ward, said: “Every business is adapting to do what it can to support the fight against coronavirus. Having dealt with biological and hazardous waste from hospitals, GP surgeries and dental practices for many years, we are familiar with developing waste management plans for medical equipment and surgical garments.

“We have procedures in place to store, manage and collect waste in a safe and secure way, with a complete duty of care.

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“Following a number of urgent enquiries, we’ve been able to adapt our systems to support local care homes and hospitals to provide a complete solution for disposing of materials potentially contaminated with Covid-19.

“The lockable storage containers are placed on site can be used for the disposal of overalls, incontinence waste, sharps, medicines and used protective equipment.

“They are helping to reduce spread of the virus once materials leave site and enter the waste supply chain, as we understand that sanitation measures cannot stop at source.”

In recognition of these services, Ward was among a number of recycling and waste sector businesses to receive a letter of thanks from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.