Used empty intravenous fluid bags, oxygen masks and tubing are some of the products being used to make safety mats for children’s playgrounds in a recycling initiative driven by Hutt Hospital staff.
Operating theatre staff have been working on a PVC recycling programme over the last six weeks which has seen staff collect around 200 kg of PVC mainly from used oxygen masks, tubing and empty intravenous fluid bags.This material was sent to Matta Products in Otaki which produce children’s playground safety mats and other work mats.
Anaesthetist Dr Sabine Pecher is working with hospital staff and management to rollout PVC recycling hospital wide in the coming months as part of a planned hospital wide initiative around sustainability.
“This project brings a multitude of benefits to the community and the environment. Everyone has been happy to take part in doing this and we are very proud of our results to date.”
Over 33 million tons of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is being produced each year with that figure increasing annually. PVC is not biodegradable but well-suited for recycling which helps to reduce high worldwide rates of plastic pollution.
