A new contract for clinical waste disposal has been awarded to Stericycle. Find out about how this will help reduce costs, as well as improve safety and sustainability. 

The contract for clinical waste disposal was put out to tender in June 2022. Six companies were invited to bid, including the incumbent. Four companies submitted bids and after a robust tender process the contract was awarded to Stericycle. 

Stericycle’s bid was not only the best in terms of pricing but included many innovative sustainability strategies. One example is the emptying, sterilising and reusing of sharps bins. Rather than incinerating a sharps bin they can now be used up to 70 times before needing to be replaced, cutting down significantly on single use plastics.

Rather than decanting the waste into a van the uplift bins will be removed and replaced with clean ones each time waste is uplifted. This reduces the likelihood of an accidental release should a waste bag split or a sharps bin seal fail. The risks associated with manually handling both for QMUL staff and the contractor is also significantly reduced. 

A robust segregation education programme for the laboratory’s has been outlined for the compliant disposal of clinical waste which will help reduces costs, prevent fines and penalties for non-compliance and increase safety and sustainability.

See here for more information about hazardous waste processes at the University.