Tackling plastic waste in health care

With the support of APR Plastics, Recycle Wise has initiated a service previously missing in the healthcare industry. The service provides a recycling pathway for a commonly used type of IV bag.

85% of plastic waste in health care is clean and can be recycled if there is a stream to support it, according to the Ministers Priority List for 2023–2024, which singled out plastics in health care. The List instructs manufacturers, importers and distributors of health items to exhibit enhanced and measurable actions towards product stewardship by November 2024.

In light of this directive, Recycle Wise set out to reduce plastic waste from health care and to support product stewardship by servicing a new stream: an IV bag made from freeflex for delivery of sodium chloride. The freeflex IV bag has been designed to deliver high-quality healthcare standards while at the same time minimising its impact on the environment through recycling. It is now in the majority of clinics and wards in Australia’s health and therapeutic care industry.

Previously, uncontaminated bags in Victoria were going into general waste. With Recycle Wise’s IV bag recycling stream, this no longer has to be the case.

Image caption: Nurse holding up IV bags that can be recycled and no longer go to landfill.