Care homes create a significant amount of waste, which needs to be managed as a legal requirement. With ‘simpler recycling’ rules extending to micro providers due next year, Mia Fisher argues rubbish needs to be higher up facility managers’ priorities
The primary aim for care home staff is obviously the health and wellbeing of residents. However, it’s a fact that throughout daily operations, a significant amount of waste will be created, from food leftovers, packaging, sanitary waste and even out-of-date medication. Managing this waste effectively is a legal obligation, and with micro businesses of 10 employees or less set to become liable from 2027 under the 2025 simpler recycling regulations , it’s a topic that cannot be overlooked. There’s a real opportunity to shift the conversation to help build more resilient, future-ready care homes that are environmentally focused.
Waste is often seen as a cost or compliance issue, but by looking at it from a new perspective, care home operators can:
There is a variety of waste types that care homes produce on a day-to-day basis. Non-hazardous waste comes from food, glass, general recycling and general waste. Care homes often have dining areas for residents, social spaces for visitors, staff rooms and sometimes even small shops for residents to buy convenience items such as newspapers or snacks – all of which contribute to this waste type.
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