SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH WOODEN PALLET RECYCLING Have you ever wondered what happens to the wooden pallets that arrive at our hospital every month? These pallets are used within the hospital to store and transport clinical supplies and cleaning products from our receiving dock to storage areas, and are seen to quickly pile up. If not properly cared for, they could end up in landfill.
PLASTIC TO BAMBOO - SMALL SWAP, BIG WIN
Royal North Shore Hospital has introduced bamboo toothbrushes across all inpatient areas - a big stride in reducing our carbon footprint. The initiative was initially trialled successfully in ICU, where it received positive feedback from patients and demonstrated environmental benefits. Traditional plastic toothbrushes generate approximately 1.5-2.0kg CO emissions per unit, factoring raw material extraction, manufacturing, transport, and disposal. 2
In contrast, bamboo toothbrushes, made from cultivated bamboo and designed to be biodegradable, produce approximately 0.2-0.5kg CO emissions per unit. 2 On average, 912 toothbrushes are used at Royal North Shore, every year. By switching to bamboo toothbrushes, we are saving an estimated 1.28 tonnes CO emissions annually, which is equivalent to driving 5,000 – 6,000km in a petrol car. It is a small change with a big impact and another step forward toward caring for our planet. 2
To prevent this from happening, our Corporate Services team has partnered with our waste management company, Veolia, to collect and recycle these timber pallets. This small but meaningful change has reduced waste, increased our diversion rates from landfill and made a significant positive impact on the environment.
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