Milton Keynes Hospital pledges to make a difference to the planet

Flying the flag for Milton Keynes, members of staff at Milton Keynes University Hospital, including Joe Harrison, chief executive, have joined an initiative that will stop 80,160 disposable plastic bottles being used over the next 12 months.
Staff at Milton Keynes University Hospital pledging to make a change and help the environmentStaff at Milton Keynes University Hospital pledging to make a change and help the environment
Staff at Milton Keynes University Hospital pledging to make a change and help the environment

Staff pledged to each make small changes each month, to help the environment and improve sustainability. Pledges included to not use any plastic bags and to not use plastic straws.

Staff have taken time out of their hectic schedules to learn moreabout recycling, where waste goes, sustainability and how they can contribute the circular economy.

The information and pledge initiative, courtesy of Cawleys Waste Management, was extremely well received.

Currently just nine-per-cent of all plastic waste in the world has been recycled and by 2050 it is predicted that there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

Unsurprisingly staff at the hospital were keen to pledge their support to reduce their contribution to plastic waste both personally and professionally.

This initiative adopted by Milton Keynes University Hospital is part of a wider campaign, ‘Small Action Big Impact’, a venture byCawleys Waste Management, based in Luton.

The yearlong project aims to encourage businesses and trusts across the south east to all make small changes to their behaviours such as reducing waste, re-using items where possible and recycling more. All of which, when added together, can make a huge difference to the environment.

Joe Harrison, Milton Keynes University Hospital Chief Executive, supporting the #smallactionbigimpact campaign from Cawleys Waste Management.

Joe Harrison said:“As an organisation we are truly committed to minimising the impact that our practices have on the environment.

"The NHS actively encourages its staff to contribute to the circular economy and help support sustainability and at Milton Keynes University Hospital, we are proud to be introducing a number of recycling facilities and initiatives for staff and patients to support the small action big impact campaign.”

Because employees at the hospital pledged to make these changes, the organisation now has a chance to win an Engagement Roadshow from Cawleys.

It is this sort of activity, where people can learn more about recycling and how to minimise the impact of their actions on the environment, which makes a difference. Anyone can take part and sign up at www.smallactionbigimpact.com

Marcus Gover, WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) CEO, said: “We welcome Cawleys ‘Small Action Big Impact’ campaign to encourage more recycling.

"We all have to do our bit and it’s only by working together that we can collectively make a difference and protect our environment.

"Recycle Week is all about celebrating recycling and reminding everyone that we recycle ‘because it matters’, and it’s great to have the support of Cawleys to help spread the word.”

Anna Cawley, director of customer service at Cawleys, said:“We’re not the biggest recycling company in the UK but we aim to be the best. We are certainly very innovative, and we want to show the world, starting here in the south east, that we can all make a difference to the planet by taking the right, small steps.”