CVS has introduced new reuseable sharps bins across all of its practices UK-wide.
Each reusable sharps bin can be reused up to 200 times. The move is expected to save 21,000 single-use sharps bins from being incinerated per annum across all CVS sites, resulting in the direct reduction of approximately 30 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year.
Sharps bins are currently used in all of CVS practices, MiNightVet out-of-hours vets, and specialist referrals hospitals. To date these standard sharps bins have been single use and have undergone high temperature incineration – as used sharps, such as needles, need to be treated with great care.
CVS’ new reuseable sharps bins will be filled at practice and collected by CVS’ waste collection services. They will be emptied using specialist robotic equipment, then carefully sanitised and inspected before being reassembled. Finally, they will be returned to practice for re-use.
Three sizes of sharps bins have been introduced, at 7.5L, 15.1L and 30.1L. They are made from recyclable plastic, and similair in shape and form to original sharps bins but with a temporary locking top which snaps shut when full.
Rosie Naylor, waste working group lead at CVS, said: “Caring for animals goes hand-in-hand with caring for the natural environment. We care about doing our job in a way that is sustainable and that does not compromise the natural environment.
“Sharps bins were a key source of CVS’ unrecyclable waste undergoing incineration. So we wanted to find an alternative solution where the bins were carefully emptied, cleaned, and reused. Taking this step is going to significantly reduce the amount of waste we produce and will help minimise our impact on the planet.”
The migration to reuseable sharps bins comes after a successful pilot scheme was conducted in Chestergates Veterinary Specialists hospital.
CVS has set stretching targets to significantly reduce the company’s environmental impact, with the aim of becoming a more sustainable company. The group has committed to reducing waste sent to landfill by 10 percent and increasing the percentage of non-medical waste recycled to 38 percent by July 2025. During 2023-2024 CVS achieved a 13.9 percent reduction in medical waste and a 34.7 percent reduction in medical waste incinerated.
