phs Diverts PPE Waste From Landfill With Launch Of New Bin
Leading hygiene services provider phs Group has launched a new service which will see Covid-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as single-use masks, being managed safely amid warnings it is becoming the latest danger to ocean life.
PPE waste collected from phs PPE waste bins will be diverted from landfill and converted into energy, ensuring it is disposed of both responsibly and sustainably.
Campaigners are warning that single-use PPE has fast become the world’s latest plastic polluter – with nearly 200 billion disposable masks and gloves used worldwide every month, resulting in widespread environmental contamination[1] With the majority of PPE made from plastics, those that end up at sea could take up to 450 years to decompose[2], ensnaring animals in the process.
The new PPE waste bin from phs was launched in response to the surge in use of PPE, including face masks, gloves and aprons, and the need for responsible disposal. As part of phs’ Lifecycle sustainable waste strategy, PPE waste is diverted from landfill to energy-from-waste plants across England and Wales, converting it into energy to power homes.
A designated bin also ensures PPE waste is disposed of separately therefore reducing the risk of cross-contamination and the hands-free bins are treated with an effective germicide to combat harmful bacteria.
Paul Doble, Chief Commercial Officer of phs Group said: “While the pandemic has made PPE usage essential, what is not necessary is the burden this is placing on our planet. The rise in PPE plastic pollution has seen masks and gloves littering our streets, countryside and coasts posing a real danger to wildlife and the planet. But we can change this by ensuring safe, responsible and sustainable disposal. As leaders in sustainable waste management, we’re proud that our Lifecycle strategy is pioneering in how it converts PPE waste into energy, diverting it from landfill. It’s all part of our aspiration to do the right thing.”
Alongside the new PPE bin, phs has also launched a new five-litre hand sanitising station and a new PPE vending machine to supply hand sanitiser on the go. The new vend dispenses single-serve hand gel sachets as well as bottles of phs’ NO-GERMS hand sanitiser, providing emergency protection for people when out and about. The fully-serviced and self-contained slimline vending machine is one of the most compact vends on the market and is suitable for use in a range of locations from washrooms and public areas to retail, leisure and hospitality outlets.
The new products form part of phs’ extensive range of hygiene products designed to support businesses back to work; from hand sanitiser stations and hand soap to air purifiers which remove impurities – including viruses – from the air as well as Covid-19 messaging floor mats. Under the phs Group umbrella, other services include phs Interclean’s emergency-response coronavirus cleaning taskforce, phs Compliance’s coronavirus surface-testing and mandatory back-to-work safety checks and phs Greenleaf’s range of green hygiene and social distancing products from directional planters to portable living wall divides and hand sanitising stands with integrated plants.
Paul added: “At phs, hygiene is – and always has been – our business. As industry experts, we have the knowledge and experience to support organisations through the coronavirus pandemic whether they have been trading throughout or are reopening following closure. We’re equipped with a full range of products and services to boost hygiene and are constantly innovating to ensure we’re supporting organisations, keeping them hygienic and safe.”
For more information about phs Group, visit the phs website. You can also follow @phsGroup on Twitter and phs Group on LinkedIn
[1] Environment, Science & Technology Journal
phs' new PPE bin aims to cut down on this now-common sight.
