We successfully piloted centralised waste units to replace small plastic ‘desk bins’ and have now embedded a more uniform system to increase recycling levels whilst generating a thoughtful reduction in general waste.
Dentistry is already tightly regulated in terms of clinical waste, but we undertake regular clinical and other waste audits, the results of which are helping us further enhance recycling levels.
Our Harleigh Road Dental Centre in Bodmin is a registered Colgate TerraCycle location for patients and the local community to deposit their old toothbrushes, empty toothpaste tubes and other oral care product packaging for recycling. This is complemented by smaller recycling points in each of our locations and in many of our Brighter Smiles school communities, plus we have a collection bin during our annual Smiles at Sea harbourside tour.
Each year we collect and deposit around 10kg kilograms which earns us Terracycle points redeemable into a financial return for us to ultimately reinvest back into our communities – a real win:win initiative!
