Believed to be a first for the industry, the Vet Direct Recycling Boxes will collect this waste direct from a practice’s doorstep and take it to a UK-based reprocessor. Here it will be recycled it into a plastic replacement for plyboard - to be used within the construction industry.
The veterinary profession is a significant producer of plastic waste. This includes soft plastic - such as sterile packaging and pet food packaging, and medicinal waste - including blister packs and syringes[ii]. To date, some of this soft plastic waste may have been recycled in local facilities, with the remaining previously considered ‘unrecyclable waste’ sent to landfill.
The two Vet Direct Recycling Boxes will be able to accommodate the widest range of soft plastic and medicinal waste. The Soft Plastic Recycling Box will take packets, non-contaminated dry fluid bags, and sterile and pet food packaging, whilst the Medicinal Waste Recycling Box will take needle caps, blister packs, vials, pill bottles and syringes[iii]. Much of this waste has previously been unrecyclable in domestic, local council and supermarket schemes.
Veterinary practices can order their chosen Recycling Box from Vet Direct online. In 48 hours, the box will be couriered to the practice. Colleagues will be able to fill their box in their own time, with clean, dry, uncontaminated packaging. When a box becomes full, colleagues simply need to close and seal the box, and contact the reprocessor by email or telephone to arrange courier collection. Each box has a 90 litre capacity, meaning that it should accommodate practice waste over a number of weeks.
Upon collection, The Vet Direct Recycling Boxes will be sent to the facilities of UK reprocessor MyGroup in Hull, East Yorkshire, who have been recycling for 30 years. Here, their contents will be sorted, washed and shredded, and milled into MYboard™ - an extremely versatile replacement for plyboard that can be used indoors and out, and is available in a variety of colours and finishes. This board can also be recycled at the end of its life in a ‘closed loop’.
Founded in 2005, Vet Direct provides veterinary practices around the UK with veterinary equipment, consumables, workwear, training, servicing and repairs. It works with trusted brands and partners to offer quality equipment at competitive prices. The company stocks over 5,000 high-quality items in its warehouses in Newcastle, available for same day dispatch. For further information visit the Vet Direct website or to speak to a member of Vet Direct’s Customer Care or Technical Team by calling 0800 068 3300.
CVS Group operates across small animal, farm animal, equine and laboratories, with over 500 veterinary practices and referral centres in the UK and Australia. In the last five years the company has invested nearly £80 million in its sites, facilities and equipment, in addition to industry leading training and support, to give the best possible care to animals. For more information about careers with CVS Group visit the CVS Group Careers site.