The Health Technical Memorandum 07-01 provides guidance on the safe and sustainable management of healthcare waste, including textile waste. Here's a summary of the key points related to the disposal of textile waste:
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Waste Prevention and Efficiency: It's recommended to establish a returns policy with suppliers for unsold and damaged goods. Forming relationships with charities or other organisations that can use textiles is also encouraged. Clothes and textiles in good condition can be donated to registered charities and reuse organisations.
Our response: We have a take back and Scrub Cap recycling scheme available since 2022 for hospitals that don't have access to facilities. -
Waste Segregation, Storage, Handling, and Collection: Clean textiles should be stored in a designated, clean, dust-free, closed cupboard or on a dedicated fully enclosed mobile trolley, off the floor, and segregated from used/soiled textiles. If clean textiles are exposed to any infectious agent, they must be disposed of as infected linen. Clean textiles should not be stored in areas such as the sluice or in bathrooms, and they should not be decanted onto open trolleys unless for immediate use.
Our response: We are offering on request bags that are closed for storing your clean scrub caps in day to day use. Just email us. -
Recovery, Treatment, and Disposal: The manufacturer of unused textiles should be contacted to establish the possibility of implementing a take-back or bring-back scheme. Collection of such wastes by registered charity collection services should also be explored. Items that are not suitable to be passed onto someone else can be recycled and made into new items, such as padding for chairs and car seats, cleaning cloths, and industrial blankets.
Our response: We have a take back and Scrub Cap recycling scheme available since 2022 for hospitals that don't have access to facilities. -
Recycling: Reusable healthcare textiles at the end of their working life may be suitable for recycling for use in a non-healthcare setting. Some clinical wastes are suitable for recycling following treatment.
Our response: We already donate scraps from fabric that are used to make your scrub caps to local schools for crafting, even the boards that hold the fabric. -
Disposal: Landfill disposal remains a disposal option for some healthcare wastes, but this should only be used as a last resort, with preference given to incineration with energy recovery.
