SP 5.11 Act Green: Promoting Sustainability Awareness in Theatres

Abstract

This QIP aimed to gauge and improve the knowledge of correct waste segregation practice and to promote compliance to National Green Theatre Project sustainability principles amongst theatre staff in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) theatres. Recyclable materials are commonly disposed of as general waste in theatres, while non-recyclable waste is misplaced in recycling, ‘contaminating’ those bags and necessitating their incineration resulting in loss of renewable materials.

Theatre staff completed a questionnaire testing their knowledge of which bins various items should be disposed in. Compliance was assessed using spot checks of bins in four theatres twice a day over 14 days. General waste and recycling bins were inspected for any incorrectly disposed waste. Any incorrect disposal resulted in the theatre failing that check.

A mean score of five out of eight correct answers was produced from the 170 staff members (including surgeons, anaesthetists, and theatre nurses) who completed the questionnaire. Out of 104 total inspections among the theatres, waste had been segregated correctly in only 31.7% and incorrectly in 68.3%. Paper towels in recycling and plastic packaging in general waste were the most common items placed incorrectly.

Efforts to educate staff on the importance of waste segregation have been ongoing since completing this project’s first cycle. These included discussing results with various ARI theatre teams, presenting at various sustainability champions meetings, and distributing educational materials to staff. The second cycle of this project is currently underway with the aim to demonstrate change and show that theatres can become more sustainable.