Sodexho Healthcare launches new waste management policies

Sodexho Healthcare currently has contracts with NHS hospitals to manage the storage, collection and removal of clinical, general and hazardous waste from sites. The clinical policies have been distributed to each Sodexho Healthcare unit, including Stoke Mandeville Hospital - where Iain Anderson, managing director, Sodexho Healthcare, recently presented the policies to the unit team - Queen's Hospital in Romford, King's College and Roehampton Hospitals in London and Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester.

The policies cover both clinical and non-clinical waste management procedures and are in place to ensure compliance with all applicable waste and environmental legislation, policy requirements and recognised best practice such as ISO 14001, that are relevant to waste management operations at client sites.

To ensure the polices are executed properly, Sodexho's unit managers are offered a full set of written procedures, training aids and audit documents as support. Furthermore, the policies are supported by nationally recognised qualifications and for those undergoing training on the policies, the training will result in an NVQ in Environmental Management, Level 4.

To date 19 senior managers have been on a training programme and a further 18 are scheduled for a course in October.

Iain Anderson, managing director, Sodexho Healthcare, said: “We have worked very closely over the last 18 months with the healthcare teams and our clients to ensure that these policies meet all of our requirements and they have been positively received.”

The policies' procedures, training and supporting information offers clear advice to Sodexho Healthcare site teams and is available in an instant online. In addition to the website, employees will have access to a 24 hour free phone number; will receive quarterly legislative updates by email; will have access to specific learning and development materials for managers and teams; and will also receive updates of other relevant waste related activity.

Paul Bracegirdle, environmental manager, Sodexho, said: “Our new clinical waste management policy will provide continuity across our Healthcare business providing clear guidelines on how best to manage and handle waste and help employees to continue to work in an environmentally responsible manner. Not only that, we are able to introduce the non-clinical policy across other parts of Sodexho, including our catering business for example, so we can maximise the opportunity to recycle and manage waste efficiently and effectively all round, which is a priority focus for us.”