The Montefiore Hospital commissions bench made from 26kg of recycled plastic
14 June 2024
The Montefiore Hospital, part of Spire Healthcare Group plc, is proud to announce the installation of a new fully recycled bench in its courtyard for both patients and colleagues to enjoy.
Made from 26kg of recycled PET plastic collected by Spire, this innovative piece of outdoor furniture was commissioned by Veolia UK, a leader in environmental solutions, as part of the hospitals ongoing commitment to sustainability.
The commissioning of the recycled bench marks the beginning of the sustainability efforts and represents the hospitals dedication to waste management and promoting recycling. Local initiatives, as such, are being rolled out across all Spire sites and will support the wider strategy.
Hospital Managing Director, Rachel Dixon, said, “We are thrilled to introduce this recycled plastic bench to our hospital grounds. Recycling plays a critical role in our sustainability efforts, helping us reduce waste and lower our carbon footprint. By using recycled materials, we are not only diverting waste from landfills but also contributing to a more sustainable environment. This bench is a small yet significant step in our journey towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and we are proud to lead the way in the healthcare sector.”
Group Waste and Sustainability Manager, Nikki Polden, commented, “As Spire’s Group Waste and Sustainability Manager, it has given me great pleasure to see this project from its infancy to reality. Spire is continually working towards its carbon neutral goal for 2030 and projects like this are helping us to achieve that goal. Spire are always looking at ways to reduce and recycle our waste, plastic being one of our greatest challenges. The bench project has not only helped with recycling our plastic waste and removing this waste from our Clinical and Domestic waste streams, it is also helping to reduce our carbon footprint, our domestic landfill waste percentage and increase our recycling percentages. Most importantly, it is giving our staff and visitors somewhere nice to sit and relax.”
Since announcing its commitment to becoming the first UK independent sector healthcare provider to become carbon neutral by 2030, Spire has trained a colleague from each of its 38 sites to become ‘carbon champions’ with the aim of developing local initiatives for reducing waste and carbon consumption.
In addition to this initiative, Spire Healthcare is further solidifying its commitment by investing £5.2 million in solar panels across its 38 sites. This substantial investment underscores Spire’s dedication in supporting renewable energy sources. The installation of solar panels is expected to significantly lower energy consumption and enhance the sustainability of its facilities nationwide.
For more information about Montefiore Hospitals' sustainability initiatives or to schedule an interview with Rachel Dixon please contact Jessie Foreman at commskentsussex@spirehealthcare.com or 0773 3011 172.