The local Community Health Partnerships (CHP) team are supporting environmental responsibility by implementing recycling initiatives across several of its South West healthcare buildings. The project, spearheaded by CHP’s Operations and Relationship Manager (ORM) Sharon Wren, aims to increase recycling rates within these healthcare facilities and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Sharon Wren is just one of the many ORMs and other staff working at CHP who are #recyclingheroes on World Recycling Day 18 March 2025, and every day. They support recycling initiatives for a Greener NHS, making a positive difference for their local communities.
Community Health Partnerships commitment to recycling
CHP’s commitment to recycling demonstrates how healthcare organisations can play a crucial role in promoting environmental sustainability. By reducing waste and conserving resources, the NHS can minimise its carbon footprint and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 for a greener NHS.
Healthcare staff, CHP staff, waste management professionals, and the public all play a part in ensuring that waste produced in our buildings is segregated correctly.
In addition to recyclables like paper, confidential waste paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, glass and cans, which are already collected at CHP healthcare facilities, many buildings across our 300+ portfolio also recycle textiles, bras, furniture NHS walking aids, etc.
We are working with our tenants to implement changes under the ‘Simpler Recycling’ legislation from 1 April 2025 to expand food waste and dry mixed recycling further. As we continue to embed sustainability across CHP, we work collaboratively throughout our supply chain to deliver a #GreenerNHS.
Read: Simpler Recycling from 1 April 2025: What CHP tenants need to know (February 2025).
Expanding Recycling Efforts: Batteries, Blister Packs, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste Tubes, and Ink Cartridges
This initiative in the southwest focuses on collecting and recycling materials that are often overlooked, such as:
- Batteries contain hazardous materials that can harm the environment if not disposed of properly. Recycling batteries helps recover valuable metals and prevents pollution.
- Blister Packs, commonly used for packaging medications and other products, can be recycled through specialised programmes.
- Toothbrushes and Toothpaste Tubes, while not typically recycled curb-side, toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes are being recycled via the Smile Together Project.
- Ink Cartridges can be returned to retailers or via specific recycling programmes.
By expanding its recycling efforts to include these items, CHP is demonstrating its commitment to a comprehensive approach to environmental sustainability.
Recycling at South region CHP sites includes:
- Batteries
- Blister Packs
- Toothbrushes and Toothpaste Tubes
- Ink Cartridges
- Clothing and textiles
- Bras banks: Breast cancer now bra recycling
- Walking aids reuse schemes for crutches, frames and walking sticks: Recycle Now
- Second-hand books
Some sites have water coolers which calculate the number of plastic bottles saved when dispensing water.
Various CHP sites also collect unneeded or new medical equipment to distribute to Ukraine, India, and countries in Africa.
Please check with the CHP site before bringing the above recyclables, as each site has different recycling options.
By encouraging responsible resource use, reuse schemes and recycling practices, Community Health Partnerships supports a healthier future for patients, local communities, and the planet. Community Health Partnerships is proud to support World Recycling Day 2025. As a key member of the NHS family, we recognise our responsibility to protect the environment and promote sustainable practices. By implementing effective recycling programmes and educating CHP and NHS staff, visitors, and patients, we can make a significant contribution to a Greener NHS.
By actively promoting recycling within our healthcare facilities, we hope this initiative will inspire NHS staff, patients and visitors to embrace sustainable practices in their daily lives. We recognise the importance of minimising our impact on the environment. Recycling allows us to divert waste from landfills, conserve precious resources, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Supporting recycling initiatives across the CHP aligns with our commitment to providing high-quality healthcare services while fostering a healthy planet for our patients and communities.
Reasons for Recycling
Recycling offers numerous benefits for both individuals and the environment:
- Preserving Natural Resources: Recycling helps conserve valuable resources, such as trees, minerals, and fossil fuels.he
- Reducing Landfill Waste: By recycling, we can divert waste from landfills, reducing their environmental impact and extending their lifespan.
- Energy Conservation: Recycling requires less energy than manufacturing new products from raw materials, saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Creating Jobs: The recycling industry supports numerous jobs and contributes to the local economy.
- Protecting Wildlife and Ecosystems: Reducing waste and pollution helps protect wildlife habitats and ecosystems
Further recycling information
Find out more about recycling at: Recycle now www.recyclenow.com/
WRAP is a global environmental action NGO transforming our broken product and food systems to create Circular Living for the benefit of climate, nature and people. www.wrap.ngo
Read more about recycling at CHP: Recycling
Confidential paper recycling: Confidential waste paper recycling at CHP supports a Greener NHS (October 2023).
Sustainability at CHP
As part of the NHS family, CHP supports the NHS ambition to deliver the world’s first net zero health system. Sustainable Facilities are one of our five strategic aims and Sustainability is one of our four corporate social responsibility pillars. Aligning with the NHS target of achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2040, the team at CHP are committed to achieve Net Zero Carbon for the LIFT estate by 2040 and 2030 for our corporate functions.
