Airedale NHS Foundation Trust opens new recycling points for walking aids

Monday, 12 August 2024 17:45

Recycling bin at Airedale General Hospital

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has opened two new recycling bins across its sites for members of the public to drop off walking aids that they no longer use.

The bins have been funded by the Trust’s Therapy Services team after they identified that a large number of walking aids were not being returned when patients no longer needed them.

The recycling bins are accessible to the public and are located in the entrances of Airedale Hospital and Canalside Community Health Centre.

Airedale General Hospital
Main entrance (Zone C)
Skipton Road,
Steeton,
Keighley
BD20 6TD
What3Words location - solicitor.stands.prime

Canalside Community Health Centre
2 Kingsway,
Bingley
BD16 4RP
What3Words location – nurture.playback.scatter

In 2022, the Trust launched an ambitious Green Plan that set out a framework for sustainability and low carbon practice.

Reusing a refurbished walking aid is, on average, 87% lower in carbon emissions than issuing a new walking aid.

Freya Sledding, Chief Allied Health Professional at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We are very excited to get this scheme off the ground and be able to offer two accessible drop-off points for people to come and recycle their unused walking aids.

“We’re delighted to be able to help the Trust meet its Green Plan targets by reducing waste and we will be exploring the option of expanding the number of drop-off points in the future.”

Once the walking aids have been dropped off, they are inspected, cleaned and put back into circulation if they are found to be safe and fit for purpose. If they do not meet health and safety requirements, they are condemned and the raw materials are recycled.

If the walking aids are safe but not required by the Trust’s services, the Therapy team works with charities to re-distribute these to people who need them overseas.

It does not matter when or where the walking aids were prescribed as long as they meet the below requirements:

What is accepted:
-   Metal adjustable crutches
-   Metal adjustable walking stick
-   Metal adjustable quad sticks
-   Metal Zimmer frames
-   Standard walking frames
-   Wheeled walking frames
-   Four-wheeled outdoor walkers
-   Gutter frames

What is not accepted:
-   Wooden walking sticks
-   Foldable walking sticks
-   Bespoke or ornamental handles
-   Foldable three-wheeled walkers
-   Walking aids that are broken or bent
-   Walking aids with cracked or stained handles/parts

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