Sustainability interventions in nursing wards
ADL
Recycling incontinence materials
Incontinence materials are used for various patient groups in hospitals. By processing incontinence materials as a separate waste stream, resources can be recovered and reused.
Intervention
Separate collection and recycling of incontinence materials.
Exclusion: Incontinence materials with traces of cytostatics.
Environmental impact
Measured in CO₂ emissions, based on waste separation and recovery of raw materials from incontinence materials.
Implementation approach
- Due to limited capacity at the current Is waste-to-energy plant that recycles incontinence materials, no new contracts can be established at this time. If your hospital is interested in this intervention, please inform the Greening healthcare together programme team.
- Beforehand, assess how many kilograms of incontinence material your hospital would like to offer for recycling. Once the total demand from hospitals is clear, the programme team can explore whether scaling up is possible.
When is it implemented?
This intervention is considered implemented when incontinence material in the hospital is separately collected for recycling, and the difference in CO₂-equivalent (kg) has been calculated.
How is this measured?
Determine the number of kilograms of incontinence material that is separately collected for recycling using waste management data and fill in the environmental impact calculation tool*.
Resources
Click here for more information about the recycling process.
Click here for an example from Sophia Children's Hospital where incontinence material is separately collected for recycling.
Click here for an example from the UK, where a separate collection method for incontinence material was introduced on a pediatric ward.
Footnotes
*The environmental impact calculation tool follows
Resultaten
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View our other interventions
Verpleegkundig handelen
Non-sterile bladder catheter insertion
Since July 2024, bladder catheterisation may be performed using the new ‘no-touch technique’. In this method, non-sterile gloves are used, and the genital area is cleaned with tap water. This more sustainable approach requires fewer sterile materials and saves time, as the procedure can be performed by a single nurse. With this intervention, nurses put the new guideline into practice.
Nursing practice
Replacing IV lines every seven days
IV lines, the part of the infusion system that remains outside the body and connects to the intravenous catheter, are currently replaced every four days to prevent infections. Research shows that replacing IV systems every seven days does not increase the risk of infection. This saves materials and time for nurses.
Nursing practice
Containers made from recycled plastic for specific hospital waste
Nursing units produce large amounts of waste, including specific hospital waste (SHW). Nurses collect this waste in separate SHW containers, also known as WIVA containers, identifiable by their blue bins with yellow lids. A more sustainable alternative made from recycled plastic has been developed, recognisable by its grey colour.
