Council’s Community Equipment Recycling Drive Yields Fantastic Results

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From: “Reading Borough Council” <webmaster@reading.gov.uk>
Date: 4 Oct 2016 11:06 a.m.
Subject: Council’s Community Equipment Recycling Drive Yields Fantastic Results
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Council’s Community Equipment Recycling Drive Yields Fantastic Results

04/10/2016
Reading Borough Council Press Release

READING Borough Council’s drive to recover and recycle used community equipment has yielded fantastic results, with over £20,000 in recycling credits made in August 2016.

An impressive 135 pieces of medical equipment were collected, ranging from slings, hoists and shower benches, to walking frames, pill dispensers and bath lifts. The equipment is returned to the Berkshire Community Equipment Service provider (NRS Healthcare Ltd) for decontamination, recycling and re-issue.

When the Council returns items it has bought from the Berkshire Community Equipment Service, it generates recycling credits when the items have been processed successfully. The amount generated depends on how long the item has been out in the community, with clients, and its condition. August’s bumper collection generated £20,121 in recycling credit.

This year’s great results are the culmination of a Council wide drive to increase community equipment recycling. Last year the Council’s occupational therapy team undertook work to identify ways to increase recycling, including writing to house clearance companies and raising awareness with the Council’s housing department. The results have continued to improve, with last August reaching a record level.

Cllr Rachel Eden, Reading’s Lead Member for Adult Social Care, said: “I’m delighted by these impressive results, which are a testament to all the hard work put in by these teams to increase equipment recycling.

“Vital community aids such as wheelchairs, frames and walking sticks can be recycled and reused. By collecting back as many items of used community equipment as we can, we can not only save money but prevent these items ending up unnecessarily in landfill.”

To report unwanted community equipment for collection, contact 08448936960 to arrange free collection by NRS Healthcare Ltd at a convenient time.
 

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

For a number of years the six Berkshire local authorities and the seven Berkshire NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) have jointly commissioned the Berkshire Community Equipment Service (BCES), with NRS Healthcare Ltd as the contracted service provider. By working in partnership the local authorities and CCGs are able to collectively achieve better purchasing power and provide an efficient service to the population of Berkshire.

NRS Healthcare Ltd recycle all community equipment issued as part of BCES wherever possible for re-issue.
 

Media Contact: Victoria Buckett
Tel: 0118 937 3957