ROYAL NORTH SHORE HOSPITAL GREEN MATTERS
The winter season is often seen as a time when things slow down – cooler temperatures, shorter days and a rise in seasonal illnesses that all tend to set a quieter tone. But, at Royal North Shore we have kept up our momentum strong, steadily and strategically striving to make our healthcare facility more sustainable. The fifth edition of RNSH Green Matters brings together many impactful initiatives that have been implemented over the past quarter to reduce our carbon footprint and improving environmental outcomes. From minimising unnecessary supply and delivery of medical gases, to actively monitoring the results of earlier green initiatives, to reducing landfill waste, our sustainability efforts continue to grow in depth and impact. Following a short stint at Ryde Hospital, it is truly heartening to return and witness the rising enthusiasm across Royal North Shore – clearly a genuine commitment from each of you to helping us create a healthier and greener space for our community. As you read through this edition, I hope the progress we have made energises you and sparks new ideas on how you can contribute to help shape our next steps toward sustainable change. Natasha Hendy, A/Chair - RNSH Sustainability Committee
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Celebrating National Tree Day at Royal North Shore 2. Arjo Compression Bandage Recycling Stream Goes Live 3. Decommissioning Piped Gas for a Greener tomorrow 4. Responsible Disposal of Assets – a Thoughtful Approach 5. Blister pack and Inhaler Pilot
delivers Significant Wins 6. Digital admissions drive Sustainable outcomes
CELEBRATING NATIONAL TREE DAY AT ROYAL NORTH SHORE
Sunday, 27 July 2025 marked National tree day, and at Royal North Shore, we joined in the action. Despite the weather, our very own General Manager, Alison Zecchin, actively participated by planting a native Tuckeroo tree on campus. The tree will grow to provide a broadleaf canopy of leaves, offering shade and comfort for visitors. Additionally, it will
As the hospital is located within the Willoughby region, the tree is a part of the Willoughby Council Tree Master Plan, which promotes consistent planting of native species in the local area. At RNSH, we are committed to transforming our environment into green produce fruits that will attract native birds, thereby enhancing the beauty of our hospital surroundings.
spaces and in turn into wellness places. National Tree Day, organised by Planet Ark is a reminder of how we can connect with nature, support our community, and contribute to a sustainable future. Additionally, NatureFix, a free wellbeing app has been launched that helps staff and visitors connect with nature and unlock its health benefits. Download the NatureFix app today and discover the five NatureFix Wellness Zones across our hospital campus where you can begin your journey towards a better wellbeing. More information is available by clicking on the NSLHD NatureFix internet page.
ARJO COMPRESSION BANDAGE RECYCLING STREAM GOES LIVE
Our Procurement and Contract Management team was instrumental in identifying and diverting a specific surgical waste stream for compression bandages from landfill. The initiative was supported by HealthShare and the Corporate Services team. These sleeves, primarily used to arrest deep vein thrombosis(clots) in surgical patients, were previously disposed of as medical waste. Now, through the Arjo ReNU program, these sleeves are captured by our staff on level 6, 7, 8, PACU, SSSU and maternity. They are placed in green biodegradable bags located in the dirty utility rooms across surgical wards. They are then consolidated into the 240L Arjo
collection bins in the dock by HealthShare for retrieval twice a month.
In 2024, 14,000 Arjo anti-embolism leg compression sleeves were procured and disposed off by the district, with no reusable option available. This represents 2.84 tonnes of medical consumable plastic waste annually, with 1.8 tonnes (63%) coming just from the RNSH surgical wards (approximately 1.06 tonnes CO2e emissions). Following the implementation of the program in April 2025, 87% of the collected sleeves have been successfully cleaned and reprocessed (90% being the target rate) and sent back across the Arjo network as repurposed stock, noting these are not procured by RNSH. This project with its financial, waste and emissions outcomes will contribute to ongoing actions under the NSLHD Planetary Health Framework 2024-2027. It is a positive step forward in our sustainability journey – demonstrating how small changes in the clinical world can have impactful environmental benefits.
DECOMMISSIONING PIPED GAS FOR A GREENER TOMORROW
In a major stride towards creating a greener hospital environment, Royal North Shore has successfully decommissioned piped nitrous oxide in the Douglas building. This is a
significant step in reducing the facility’s carbon footprint. The initiative was a part of a broader review of medical gases led by the Net Zero Lead for Anesthetics, Dr Andrew Lindberg. The assessment identified the infrequent use of piped nitrous oxide in the Douglas Building. Smaller portable cylinders were identified as a safer option to supply the gas instead of the ageing piped infrastructure. “Leaks from Nitrous Oxide pipes can go unnoticed and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.” explained Dr. Lindberg. “By transitioning to portable cylinders, we eliminate these risks, reduce costs, and ensure there is no impact to clinical care”
Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential (GWP) of 298, and an atmospheric lifetime of more than 100 years. Therefore, reducing nitrous oxide emissions can make a meaningful difference in lowering the hospital’s environmental impact. Decommissioning the old infrastructure not only reduces emissions but also lowers operational costs and supports the hospital’s vision for a more sustainable future. Looking ahead, the Hospital plans to evaluate and phase out piped nitrous oxide in other areas where it is not clinically required, continuing its journey towards a more environmentally responsible healthcare facility.
RESPONSIBLE DISPOSAL OF ASSETS - A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH Royal North Shore Hospital in collaboration with its private partners, Ventia successfully disposed of 53 ICU hospital beds in an environmentally responsible manner. Ventia partnered with Project Net Zero and GIVIT to carry out the disposal process. Project Net Zero specialise in collecting loose assets, helping to prevent items from
The process involved dismantling the beds and their mechanical components and removing them from the facility. As the beds were inoperative and unfit to be repurposed to community organisations, they were sent to SIMs metal for recycling, with approximately 19,345 kg processed as scrap metal. The mattresses weighing 774 kg were donated via GIVIT to community organisations across Sydney. In total, 20,119kg of material was diverted from landfill through either recycling or repurposing. This collaborative initiative demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and making thoughtful choices when disposing equipment. ending up in landfill; while GIVIT, a national not-for-profit organisation, match public and corporate donated goods with people in genuine need.
BLISTER PACK AND INHALER PILOT DELIVERS SIGNIFICANT WINS In June 2024, a pilot program was launched at Royal North Shore Hospital to recycle used blister packs and inhalers. Now, one year on, the results have been highly encouraging. Over the 12-month period, the program achieved an estimated emissions savings of ~512kg CO2e from blister packs and 3877kg CO2e from recycling inhalers. Although run on a small scale, the savings show that even simple changes can make a meaningful environmental impact.
The initiative was well received with strong staff engagement, and all participating wards have expressed keen interest in continuing the program. The initiative was seen as a simple yet effective way to reduce waste and contribute to the environment.
DIGITAL ADMISSIONS DRIVE SUSTAINABLE OUTCOMES
The PaperLite Project led by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with the NSLHD Finance Team introduced a sustainable approach to patient admissions at Royal North Shore Hospital(RNSH). The pilot was launched on 1 April 2025, for all patient admissions and in the RNSH Emergency Department. Since its launch, this project has completed 11,849 admissions, resulting in saving 35,547 A4 pages. In just two months, this simple shift has resulted in saving paper equivalent to approximately 7 trees. This initiative not only streamlines processes but also underscores our organisation’s growing commitment to environmentally responsible practices.
FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE NEWS ON
Planning for Electric Fleet Vehicle EV Charging at RNSH Improved Green Spaces for Staff Recycling metal, plastic and wood
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