Rebecca Waters explains the importance of waste protocols.
We live in a throwaway culture. Nothing tends to last long these days and we purchase items knowing that their longevity will be short-lived. Packaging, much of it from single-use food wrapping, has created a huge problem for the population across the globe. The increased use in plastics has also prolonged the issue dramatically – some plastics can take up to 450 years to biodegrade. It is even affecting our health, as fish consume fragments of plastic – often micro-beads (tiny plastic balls) derived from cosmetics and toothpaste – which is then passed up the food chain to humans.
However, there are positive changes occurring. Recently, the UK followed some of its European partners by charging consumers for plastic bags; at a cost of 5p, usage has reduced significantly. There is pressure to go a step further by campaign groups, such as A Plastic Planet, who are lobbying for the government to enforce plastic-free aisles in supermarkets. Innovators are coming to the fore too, creating cleverly designed, edible food packaging to create zero waste. Dental practices take their share of responsibility by storing, segregating and disposing of their waste correctly, for the benefit of the health and welfare of their staff, patients and the wider environment.
At the time of the material revolution in the first half of the 20th century, the amount of new materials being created, such as polystyrene, nylon and polyester, was exciting and empowering. This opened up new possibilities in terms of clothing, food packaging and so much more. Back then, the impact on the environment was little understood and therefore not widely considered. The enormity of our consumption of these new materials could never have been predicted and neither could the huge environmental and health consequences that we are seeing today. Post-war, we went from a society of ‘make do and mend’ – with daily visits from the milkman and reusable bottles – to enjoying the opulence of quick food, throw away luxuries and general convenience. It is only now, after 50 years that the resulting waste problem is being tackled on a large enough scale to make an impact.
The statistics are staggering. The UK alone produces an estimated 202m tonnes of waste a year. Landfills are struggling to cope and manufacturers continue to use excessive levels of packaging, which is driven by our desire for speed and convenience. The coffee-culture is a good example. Takeaway coffee has created another waste issue with 7m cups thrown away every day in the UK, and only around one in 400 recycled. The Commons Select Committee launched an inquiry into this in March 2017, with the aim of investigating possible solutions.
Tackling the epidemic
For some time now, there has been the concept of ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’, a popular model used most often in the workplace. But concepts are advancing to consider the whole cycle of production and waste. The idea of a circular economy is taking hold, a regenerative system – endorsed by The Ellen McArthur Foundation and other high profile advocates, such as Prince Charles – with an aim “To redefine products and services to design waste out, while minimising negative impacts. Underpinned by a transition to renewable energy sources, the circular model builds economic, natural and social capital.” There are many practical ways in which consumers can contribute to relieving the problem too, from using local farmer’s markets and buying produce with no packaging, to home grown food and investing in a reusable coffee cup for that morning caffeine fix.
In the dental practice, professionals can play their part by ensuring all waste produced on the premises is correctly segregated according to the treatment or disposal method required. Following the Department of Health’s best practice guidelines for colour-coded waste streams, teams can help to ensure all appropriate waste is recycled or repurposed, significantly reducing the burden on the environment. Companies such as Initial Medical offer all the relevantly coloured waste bags, bins and sharps containers, as well as the ongoing advice and support needed to ensure that efficient waste management processes are maintained in the practice. The service provider is also committed to recycling 100 per cent of the dental waste it collects at its own dedicated dental recycling facility.
As much as we have enjoyed the ease of living in a throwaway society, the majority of consumers and manufacturers have come to the realisation that it can’t go on forever. Important changes have started to take place, although experts would argue that there is still a very long way to go.