“Reducing waste is part of our every-day role. It makes sense to us and our patients.”

Marsha is a healthcare assistant on the Seniors Health Ward at St George’s Hospital in London caring for older aged patients.

Reduction of waste through recycling is ingrained across all areas of practice at St George’s. More than 25% of all waste is currently recycled, with a target of 50% by 2025 as outlined in the hospital’s new net zero Green Plan.

Earlier this year, St George’s introduced a novel Recycled Food Waste scheme across wards and departments. Food that is not consumed by patients is collected and converted off-site into electricity, biogas and nutrient rich fertiliser. More than nine million tonnes of all food produced is spoiled or wasted in the UK every year. Some of this could be avoided and produces unnecessary emissions.